A Teignmouth Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) volunteer has passed the lifesaving charity’s tough Tier 2 assessment to qualify as a full crew member.

Rachel Palmer joined Teignmouth RNLI two years ago and has undergone extensive training both at Teignmouth Lifeboat Station and at the RNLI College in Poole. She passed her Tier 1 assessment earlier this year and has spent the last six months developing her skills to reach the next level.

The Tier 2 assessment builds on the skills from Tier 1 and includes seamanship, navigation, towing, anchoring, collision regulations, particularly during high-pressure scenarios.

Rachel’s assessment included a two-hour practical at sea where she was faced with the scenario of a man overboard.

‘The assessment felt like a step up, but a great way to bring everything I’ve learned together,’ Rachel said. ‘I’m really grateful to the crew at the station for all the support I have received, especially for running extra training sessions and passing on their invaluable knowledge. It made a big difference and helped me feel ready on the day.’

Rachel joined the RNLI after being inspired by watching a dramatic cliff rescue 40 years ago. She has a background in watersports, which has given her an insight into the risks faced by those at sea and the importance of the RNLI’s work.

Now a qualified Tier 2 crew member, Rachel will continue to develop her skills through the RNLI’s Operational Competency Framework (OCF). Crew members train twice a month to ensure they are ready to save lives at sea whenever the pager sounds. Teignmouth RNLI lifeboat operations manager Andy Lilburn congratulated Rachel on behalf of all the lifeboat station volunteers. ‘Rachel has shown real commitment and determination throughout her training,’ he said. ‘The Tier 2 pass-out is a challenging step, and she approached it with great professionalism and a positive attitude. We’re proud to have her as part of the team and look forward to seeing her continue to grow as a crew member.’