Four-man rowing sculls glide past, oarsmen grunting as the coxswain deftly works the rudder.

FORBES: Playing the Float

Thurso lifeboat coxswain Bill Farquhar was honoured for his bravery during the incident.

BBC: New ship reporting system call

The prize: to take part in the Olympic games, as the coxswain or "cox" for the eight-person rowing team.

NPR: China Looks To Row Away With Most Gold Medals

Moelfre RNLI coxswain Antony Barclay said he expected gasps when the new lifeboat sailed around the headland for the first time at Moelfre.

BBC: Moelfre lifeboat RNLB Kiwi unveiled after ?2.2m bequest

Like most on board though, he has multiple roles, able to act as crane driver, helicopter landing officer, firefighter and lifeboat coxswain if needed.

BBC: Offshore workers still get tea and cake at three

The odds of any major US politician making such a spending proposal are roughly the odds that I, a former coxswain, will play on an NFL offensive line.

FORBES: Charles Krauthammer's Curious Embrace of Poland's Welfare State

Meanwhile, the coxswain of the St Davids' RNLI team joined other volunteers on one of the charity's Tamar class all-weather boats as part of the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant.

BBC: Wet summer sees Welsh RNLI rescues fall

Paul Legendre, the Newhaven coxswain who led the operation, said his crew of seven volunteers had launched the lifeboat within five minutes of the alarm being raised, but it took half an hour to attach a tow line.

BBC: Lifeboat (gen)