Isn’t there a rule in charity law that if you define what your donation is to be spent on, then it can only be used for that purpose? For example, if you donate £100 and say it must be spent on crew kit for the Salcombe lifeboat, then it can only be used for that purpose?
From what I’ve heard the money sent abroad was sent after a fundraising campaign for that very purpose, i.e. the people who donated the money that went over did so in full knowledge, but it still doesn’t excuse the RNLI from focusing their attention away from their core aim.