The main topic of the talk will be on the Shannon Lifeboat and its launch system, SLARS (Shannon Launch and Recovery System). It will set this in the context of the role of, and background to, the RNLI and will cover aspects of the engineering of the boat and its launch systems. The Shannon is the Lifeboat selected for several of the Lifeboat stations around the Southwest the closest being the Exmouth Lifeboat station. This talk is therefore an excellent precursor to a visit to a lifeboat station and to support the work of this volunteer organisation dedicated to saving lives at sea.