CowesRNLI

noreply@blogger.com (Cowes RNLI Lifeboat) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:44:00 +0000

Marathon Man Richard All Set to Again Help Cowes Appeal

A man with strong links with the Isle of Wight is planning to take part in the London

Marathon to raise funds for the £1-million Cowes RNLI lifeboat station appeal.

This will be the second event for the appeal involving Richard, a member of the RNLI Council and of the Fordingbridge and Ringwood Branch. He was one of the driving forces behind a one-night performance of Noel Coward's 'Design for Living', recently staged at the Salisbury Playhouse and which raised over £5,000.

Already sponsorship totalling over £4,000 has been pledged for his marathon run which takes place on Sunday 22 April. And he would like more pledges before the big day. Those interested in helping him achieve a bumper amount are invited to look him up on a special web site: http: //virginmoneygiving.com/RichardAcland.

Richard, who will be 50 in July, said, "Running the marathon is one of those items on my 'to do' list before I get too ancient to be able to." He drew some confidence in successfully completing the New Forest Half Marathon last September.

He had sailed 'all his life' from Cowes and Seaview, still owned a Seaview One Design and had sailed many different yachts in Cowes Week. He is a member of both the Royal Yacht Squadron and Seaview Yacht Club.

He pointed out that the new station, to occupy the former Customs House, will help Cowes lifeboat get out into the Solent quicker than now. "Having personally witnessed lifeboat crews in action, I can vouch for how selfless, dependable and courageous they are. It is amazing the lengths they are prepared to go in order to do their job of saving lives at sea.

"On one occasion, my then ten year old daughter spotted a yacht in trouble at St Anthony Head near Falmouth and we called out Falmouth lifeboat. On another my family was involved in a fatal accident in CowesWeek, where the RNLI were the only people able to help."

Meanwhile thanks to the Playhouse event and a whole host of other money raising efforts and

generous donations the appeal has now raised something not far short of £700,000, of which over £150,000 came from the Island. And more events are in the pipeline, including a supper and auction with Alan Titchmarsh at the Royal Yacht Squadron on 27 March.

noreply@blogger.com (Cowes RNLI Lifeboat) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:43:00 +0000

Cowes RNLI Lifeboat Tows in Stranded RIB

Two men who decided to brave the ice-cold Solent today to go for a pleasure trip in an open RIB were eventually brought to a halt, not by the freezing conditions but lack of fuel.

The men had set out this morning aboard their 6.6 metre RIB from Bursledon on the River Hamble to visit various ports around the Solent. But while travelling up the western Solent, towards Cowes soon after 5 pm, they ran out of fuel.

At much the same time that someone on shore alerted Solent Coastguards about their plight, a passing catamaran stopped to provide some petrol, but not enough for them to reach a safe port.

Cowes lifeboat, with Richard O'Callaghan at the helm, arrived on the scene and took the RIB under tow to Shepards Wharf Marina, Cowes. There the lifeboat assisted in obtaining more fuel so that the men could complete their journey back to Bursledon.

noreply@blogger.com (Cowes RNLI Lifeboat) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:59:00 +0000

Island RNLI Members Turn Out to Support Phil's National Charity Hike

Members of Cowes RNLI lifeboat were among those that assembled in Newport today to welcome ex-soldier Phil Packer, on a grueling country-wide 2,012 mile BRIT 2012 charity hike.

Ex-soldier Phil, who suffered spinal injuries in Iraq in 2008, is aiming to raise money towards the building of a £15 million centre for youngsters facing adversity. Through his British Inspiration Trust he wants to encourage youngsters who have had tough lives to aspire to better things.

He started his mammoth walk at Chichester College in West Sussex on 24 January, and today he began his Isle of Wight stint at Newport's St George's special school, where enthusiastic pupils were joined by the Island's High Sheriff, Susie Sheldon. Also very much in attendance were members of local emergency services, including Cowes RNLI station's operations manager, Mark Southwell, and crew member Stuart Higgs - in full life-saving gear.

Adding to the occasion was a trailer towing a D Class RIB from the RNLI's Inshore Lifeboat Centre, East Cowes, and two local fire appliances. Mark expressed his gratitude to the ILC's operations manager, Glyn Ellis, for allowing the lifeboat to attend.

Phil explained that although his walk was in aid of the £15 million centre he also wanted to champion the good work of the RNLI, and would not want this charity to suffer because of his project. This sentiment also applied, he said, to the NSPCC and the separate benevolent funds that operated for the police and fire services.

Phil began his Island walk by circling St George's playing field several times, accompanied by many of the 140 pupils, school staff, parents, the High Sheriff and representatives of emergency services. Then it was out on to the road for the very public walk-about on the Island, which included visits to the Isle of Wight College and Carisbrooke. Throughout he was accompanied by an impressive entourage of supporters, keen to demonstrate they intended the Island to play its full part in Phil's brave challenge.

Among the many accolades already received by Phil are Fundraiser of the Year at the Pride of Britain Awards and the Helen Rollason Award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year. He is the founder and unpaid chief executive of the British Inspiration Trust, and has already raised £1.3 million in past charity walks.

New Lifeboat Slipway Rises Above the Waves!

noreply@blogger.com (Cowes RNLI Lifeboat) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:21:00 +0000

New Lifeboat Slipway Rises Above the Waves!

Work on the slipway for the new Cowes RNLI lifeboat station finally reached the stage this week when sections above the low water-line are now very much in evidence.

As the process of putting in place the slipway 'platform' began at the seaward end, the first sections were necessarily under-water - aligned on to tubular piles with the assistance of local divers. But such has been the progress made by the contractor that there are now sections well above low-water. All being well, all sections will be in situ by the end of this week.

Meanwhile another contractor is well underway converting the Custom House into the new lifeboat station.

end

Huge Cash Boost for Cowes RNLI Lifeboat Station Appeal

noreply@blogger.com (Cowes RNLI Lifeboat) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:22:00 +0000

Huge Cash Boost for Cowes RNLI Lifeboat Station Appeal

There has been a massive surprise boost to the £1-million appeal for the new Cowes lifeboat station, proposed for the old Custom House beside The Parade.

Speaking at a meeting at East Cowes of the appeal team, the RNLI's sponsor and appeal manager, Andy Whyte, disclosed that a charitable trust which wished to remain anonymous had just made a single donation of £285,000. "This means that the official appeal total has now risen to £662,709 . 66p," he said.

Warmly welcoming the donation, station manager Mark Southwell declared: "What a wonderful start to the New Year. And Cowes RNLI guild chairman, Anna Morgan Crockett, indicated she was even more hopeful that the full £1-million target could be reached in the coming months, as a result of the many other fund-raising initiatives in the pipeline.

Warm tribute was also paid by the appeal's hon treasurer, Mark Wynter, to the long list of other contributors. "I am stunned at the variety of sources the money has come from," he said. "It amounts to so much human activity, both small and large."

The team learned more monies were already in the system to add to the current grand total, including three cheques presented over the Christmas period. The most unexpected of these was £1,000 from ex-pats working in Saudi Arabia, all members of the Riyadh branch of the Royal Naval Sailing Association. The presentation was made beside Cowes lifeboat in Shepards Wharf Marina to Mark Southwell by Andrew Cubbage, Riyadh business development manager for BAE, while taking a short break on the Island.

"When I worked for BAE at Cowes between 1988 and 2003 I regularly sailed from the port, and appreciated the work of the local lifeboat," he said. "I still have a half-share in a motor launch based at Cowes Corinthian Sailing Club and a flat at Osborne Court on The Parade."

The two other cheques were presented at a popular social event at the Island Sailing Club over the Christmas holiday. One, for £990, from a well-supported club raffle, was presented to Mark Southwell by commodore Rod Nicholls.

This ceremony was followed by the presentation of a £403 cheque from Bryan and Bjorn Daniels-Hepnar, on behalf of users of East Cowes Marina. The money came from the profits of a laying up supper and raffle held on an earlier date at the Island Sailing Club for the 67 marina berth-holders. The cheque was gratefully received by Anna Morgan Crockett.

Meanwhile mainland contractor Raymond Brown is making good progress in the construction of the boat slipway at the new station, with some help provided by local diving firm, MMC. An Isle of Wight company, Imphouse, starts work on Monday (9 January) on converting the Custom House. The whole project is programmed to be completed by the end of April.

Drifting Poostix Gets Useful Help from Cowes Lifeboat

noreply@blogger.com (Cowes RNLI Lifeboat) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 09:20:00 +0000

Drifting Poostix Gets Useful Help from Cowes Lifeboat

A 37 yacht drifting in darkness just outside of Cowes Harbour was towed to safety by Cowes RNLI lifeboat this evening.

The crew of the yacht, Poohstix, had informed Solent Coastguards they were unable to make progress in the Solent through lack of wind and then finding they could not start the engine.

The lifeboat, with Simon Hawkins at the helm, found the yacht just off the Royal Yacht Squadron, and towed it to Shepards Wharf Marina. It had originally set off from Haslar, Gosport, with three men and a woman on board, intending to eventually make for Bucklers Hard on the Beaulieu River.

The lifeboat was launched just after 5 pm and returned to station at Shepards just over half an hour later.

Cowes Lifeboat Races to Help Luckless Fishermen

noreply@blogger.com (Cowes RNLI Lifeboat) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:16:00 +0000

Cowes Lifeboat Races to Help Luckless Fishermen

Engine trouble proved to be the final straw for two Isle of Wight men for whom a day's fishing aboard their 16 foot cabin cruiser in the Solent yesterday (Sunday) produced just one small fish.

As a result Cowes RNLI lifeboat was tasked by Solent Coastguards at 4.22 pm to go to the aid of the men who by then had anchored their boat, Phoenix, in Thorness Bay.

By the time the lifeboat arrived on the scene, however, the men had managed to get the engine going again. As a precaution the lifeboat, helmed by Steve Price, escorted the Phoenix as far as Cowes Harbour. From there the fishing boat continued up the River Medina to Black House Quay, Newport.

Unique Opportunities Gold Medal Dinner 3 March 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Cowes RNLI Lifeboat) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:57:00 +0000

Crippled Fishing Boat in Latest Lifeboat Rescue

noreply@blogger.com (Cowes RNLI Lifeboat) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 08:41:00 +0000

Crippled Fishing Boat in Latest Lifeboat Rescue

Assistance was given by Cowes RNLI lifeboat to a fishing boat in trouble this evening.

A man out fishing on his own in the Solent aboard the 19 foot Barracuda Blue, informed Solent Coastguards that he had broken down just east of East Cowes, because of an electrical problem. Cowes lifeboat, with Simon Hawkins at the helm, found the boat anchored just north of Norris Buoy. It was towed to Cowes Corinthian Sailing Club's pontoon.

The lifeboat, which had been alerted to the emergency at 6 pm, was back on station at Shepards Wharf Marina nearly an hour later.

New Cowes Website Launched

noreply@blogger.com (Cowes RNLI Lifeboat) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:57:00 +0000

Cowes RNLI have launched it's brand new and revamped Website. The new site is designed to be easy to update so expect it to be busy particuarly in 2012 as our new station is hopefully completed.

Many thanks and stay safe at sea.