Cowes Lifeboat Station is located in the old Customs House, at the end of Watch House Lane, in Cowes, a town located on the west bank of the River Medina estuary, at the northern tip of the Isle of Wight, overlooking the Solent.
| Cowes Lifeboat Station | |
|---|---|
 | |
.jpg) Cowes Lifeboat Station | |
  Cowes, Isle of Wight | |
| Former names | Cowes Inshore Lifeboat |
| General information | |
| Type | RNLI Lifeboat Station |
| Address | Watch House Lane |
| Town or city | Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO31 7QH |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 50°45′52.9″N 1°17′53.7″W / 50.764694°N 1.298250°W |
| Opened | 1989 / RNLI 2008 |
| Owner | Royal National Lifeboat Institution |
| Website | |
| Cowes RNLI Lifeboat Station | |
The independent Cowes Inshore Lifeboat (CIL) was stationed at Cowes in 1989. Management of the station was taken over by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 2008.[1]
The station currently operates the B-class (Atlantic 85) Inshore lifeboat Sheena Louise (B-859), on station since 2012.[2]
History
editA lifeboat was first placed at Cowes at Easter 1989, when 'Cowes Inshore Lifeboat' (CIL) began operations from a base at Shepards Wharf, Medina Road, Cowes. The CIL was a full member of the Solent Sea-Rescue Organisation (SSRO), and under the direct control of H.M. Coastguard at Lee-on-the-Solent. The SSRO was set up by Hampshire County Council in 1977, in partnership with maritime local authorities around the Solent as the umbrella organisation supporting beach and sea rescue units in the area. It became a registered charity in 1979.[3][4]
The organisation was primarily funded through numerous fundraising events, collections, donations and sponsorship, and also received a small grant from Hampshire County Council, who coordinated the collection of contributions from supporting Local Authorities, including the Isle of Wight Council, which was then distributed through the Solent Sea-Rescue Organisation.[3]
CIL operated for 19 years, and during that time, operated three lifeboats. On average, the number of call-outs was around 35–40 each year, with approximately 100–120 people assisted each year. In July 1995, a new 7.4 m (24 ft) Tornado RIB was named Spirit of Cowes by The Princess Royal.[3]
The RNLI received a formal request from the Trustees of Cowes Inshore lifeboat in 2008, requesting that the RNLI take over operations on the Cowes lifeboat. This was agreed, and a B-class (Atlantic 85), Tabbycat (B-810) was placed on service on 1 July 2008.[1][2]
In 2009, it was announced that the RNLI had acquired the old customs watch house, with plans to convert it to house the Inshore lifeboat, and move from their existing base, still at Shepards Wharf.[5]
At a ceremony on 25 July 2012, the new boathouse was officially opened by Her Majesty The Queen. Having arrived on station on 9 June 2012, to replace Tabbycat (B-810), a new B-class (Atlantic 85) Inshore lifeboat was named Sheena Louise (B-859), in memory of keen sailor Sheena Louise Pollock of Kent.[6]
Cowes lifeboats
editCowes Inshore Lifeboat (CIL)
edit| Name | In Service[3] | Class | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed | 1989–1995 | Avon 6 m (20 ft) Searider RIB | [Note 1] |
| Spirit of Cowes | 1995–2001 | Tornado 7.4 m (24 ft) RIB | [Note 2] |
| Spirit of Cowes | 2002–2008 | Barbarian 8.9 m (29 ft) RIB | [Note 3] |
RNLI
edit| Op. No.[a] | Name | In Service[2] | Class | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B-810 | Tabbycat | 2008–2012 | B-class (Atlantic 85) | |
| B-859 | Sheena Louise | 2012– | B-class (Atlantic 85) |
- ^ Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.
See also
editNotes
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Cowes' station history". Cowes Lifeboat Station. RNLI. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
- ^ a b c Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 4–132.
- ^ a b c d "Cowes Inshore Lifeboat". cowesinshorelifeboat.org. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
- ^ "Solent Sea Rescue Organisation". Portsmouth City Council. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
- ^ Durham, Dick (24 April 2009). "New home for Cowes lifeboat". Yachting Monthly. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
- ^ Ash, Tim (25 July 2012). "The Queen visits Cowes: RNLI report and photos". On The Wight. Retrieved 4 October 2024.