Port St Mary Lifeboat Day will provide an ideal opportunity for the charity to promote itself and encourage new members to join.

Visitors to Alfred Pier on Sunday afternoon will be able to learn more about the work of the RNLI and anyone who might be interested in signing up can meet existing crew members, have a tour of the inshore and all-weather lifeboats, dress up in the gear and see how it feels to be an RNLI crew member.

Port Erin and Douglas Lifeboats will join in to put on a display along with a coastguard helicopter. There will be plenty of shore side activities and family entertainment.

Jack Emmerson joined the crew three years ago. He said: ’The RNLI gives you a great opportunity to develop skills you wouldn’t normally have the chance to otherwise.

’No matter what background or experience on the water, if you’re looking for an out-of-the-ordinary challenge, then I’d recommend it.’

A spokesman for the lifeboat said: ’The RNLI aims to respond to any incident within 10 miles of the coast in 30 minutes, which means that crew members need to live or work within a few miles of the station. Port St Mary Lifeboat wants people aged 17 and over who either work or live in the south to join the crew. Men and women are all welcome. ’In fact Port St Mary has just become the first station on the island with a female coxswain. You don’t even have to come from a maritime background as full training will be provided.’

The station is probably best known for its all-weather Trent Class Lifeboat, Gough Ritchie II, which is equipped to go out into any weather to help those in difficulty on the Irish Sea.

’Our patch covers a large area and the boat has on occasion, ended up in Ireland after escorting casualties there. When the pager goes you never quite know where or what you are going to, every shout is different, it definitely keeps life interesting,’ Mr Emmerson added.

There will be free return coaches to Douglas, from Tours Isle of Man. The Lifeboat Day opens at 12.30pm at Alfred Pier.