Ryde Inshore Rescue Service

Ryde Inshore Rescue Service is located at Appley Lane, in the town of Ryde, on the Isle of Wight.[1][2]

Ryde Inshore Rescue Service
Ryde Inshore Rescue Service lifeboat station
Ryde Inshore Rescue Service is located in Isle of Wight
Ryde Inshore Rescue Service
Ryde, Isle of Wight
General information
TypeLifeboat Station
AddressAppley Lane
Town or cityRyde, Isle of Wight, PO33 1ND.
CountryEngland
Coordinates50°43′42.2″N 1°08′38.4″W / 50.728389°N 1.144000°W / 50.728389; -1.144000
Opened1956
Owner Ryde Inshore Rescue Service
Website
Ryde Inshore Rescue

A double drowning incident at the end of Ryde Pier in 1956 prompted the reformation of a rescue organisation to serve the town.

Ryde Inshore Rescue is an independent lifeboat station within the United Kingdom. It is not part of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), and does not receive funding from the RNLI or the Government. The station is on call to the H.M. Coastguard 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.[1]

The service operates two Inshore lifeboats from its station at Appley Lane, Ryde Rescue 1, an 8m Ribcraft with twin 200hp Yamaha engines, and a smaller 4.8m Ribcraft named Ryde Rescue 2, with a single 60hp Evinrude Etec engine.[1]

In October 2024, Ryde Inshore Rescue was stripped of its declared asset status by HM Coastguard, meaning that they would not be tasked to assist in a rescue if someone were to call 999.[3]

History

edit

The first lifeboat service in the town started in 1858 and was run on a voluntary basis. On 8 May 1869 the town's rescue volunteers service was supplied with a new lifeboat called the Captain Hans Busk (ON 376). A boathouse and slipway was constructed on the west side of Ryde Pier in 1870. [4]

A 28 ft 8 in (8.74 m) whaleboat type lifeboat was built by J. Samuel White at Cowes, on the Isle of Wight. The lifeboat had 24 oars and she was fitted with two sailing masts.[4]

In 1894, management of the station was handed over to the RNLI. The station was in operation until 1923. The station was closed after a motor lifeboat was stationed at nearby Bembridge Lifeboat Station.[5]

For further history of the RNLI station, please see

Ryde Inshore Rescue Service

edit

A lifeguard club, also known as Ryde Lifeguard Corps, was formed in the 1940s, but had been disbanded by 1951. The new Ryde Life Guard Corps was initially formed as a beach voluntary lifeguard unit in 1956, following a double drowning fatality at the end of Ryde Pier. Help was received from both Shanklin and Sandown Life Guard Corps, to gain volunteers, and commence training, in order to meet the requirements to be recognised by the Royal Life Saving Society. Training was undertaken at Warner’s Holiday Camp at Puckpool, in an unheated open pool. Initial operating equipment consisted of a Reel and line, a Rocket Line, and a 9-foot rowing boat, loaned by the Borough of Ryde.[6]

By 1969, efforts were hampered when vandals destroyed the rowing boat, but a new boat was found with a 40hp engine, which became the start of Search and Rescue operations. Vandals would strike again in 1978, destroying the boat house by arson. Help from the local council resulted in the construction of a new HQ and rescue centre at Appley Lane. The role of the club would gradually change to be an Inshore Rescue Lifeboat service.[6]

 
Ryde Rescue 1 and launch tractor.

Ryde Inshore Rescue lifeboats

edit
Name In Service Type Speed Comments
Sir Norman Echlin Bt 2007–2018 6.3m Rib
Ryde Rescue 2 ????–2021 4m Valiant Single 25hp Evinrude Etec 22-Knots / 25-mph
Ryde Rescue 1 2018– 8m Ribcraft Twin 200hp Yamaha 40-Knots / 45-mph
Ryde Rescue 2 2021– 4.8m Ribcraft Single 60hp Evinrude

Ryde lifeboat launch tractors

edit
Name Type Pull Speed Comments
Ryde Rescue Tango John Deere 6820 6.8L Diesel 10+ Tonnes 40-mph
Ryde Rescue Golf John Deere 3350 5.9L Diesel 6 Tonnes 35-mph

Neighbouring Station Locations

edit

See also

edit

Notes

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c "Ryde Inshore Rescue Service". The Ryde Inshore Rescue Service website home page. ©Ryde Inshore Rescue Service - 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  2. ^ OS Explorer Map OL29 - Isle of Wight, Folded Map. Publisher:Ordnance Survey; B2 edition (17 Mar 2008). ISBN 978 0319240151
  3. ^ Toogood, Darren (7 October 2024). "RYDE INSHORE RESCUE STRIPPED OF DECLARED ASSET STATUS BY HM COASTGUARD".
  4. ^ a b "The Ryde lifeboat – Hans Busk". Originally from "Isle of Wight Observer". 1 May 1869. Retrieved 25 November 2021 – via Historic Ryde Society.
  5. ^ Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboats Enthusiasts Society. pp. 4–132.
  6. ^ a b "History". Ryde Inshore Rescue. R I R S. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
edit