On Wednesday, 17th July, our long-serving County tractor, TA35, was taken away for a major overhall and service at Atkinson Tractors in Liverpool. The replacement tractor is a marinised County tractor, TW33. We do not know how long we will have the marinised County, but hope it may be a permanent fixture.

Exercise with new tractor and "capsize" ILB on 17th July 2002.
The capsize ILB is used to do just that- the crews are trained to capsize, right the boat, then re-start the outboard engine as part of their intensive training programme, so that in a real capsize, they would know the right procedure to carry out, to enable them to get back safely. This procedure is carried out at 3-yearly intervals. The capsize ILB goes around the coast to every station that has a D-class ILB. This exercise was a good test of the new marinised county's potential as a replacement for our old county tractor.

Rhyl's novel way of launching both ILBs at the same time!-push me-pull you!	The tractor backs down the slipway, pushing the station boat, and towing the capsize boat	The station boat is backed into the water and the engine is started	The trailer is a drive-off trailer, so the ILB is able to drive off immediately there is enough water

The station ILB is away, and the tractor carries on, so there is sufficient water at the rear for the capsize ILB	The capsize ILB engine is started, and floats off the normal road trailer until the boat is clear and can proceed to sea	The tractor then drives out of the water	and up the slipway!