Eastbourne RNLI - The Royal National Lifeboat Institution

RNLI Lifeboats In-Bloom winners

Posted on June 17, 2013

The winners of the In-Bloom carpet garden design competition joined the Mayor of Eastbourne Councillor Mike Thompson at Holywell last week to put the finishing touches to their creation

The In-Bloom competition, now in its 19^th year, is open to all primary schools in Eastbourne and encourages children to submit their designs for an ornamental carpet garden. This year’s theme was Eastbourne RNLI lifeboats and was won by pupils from Tollgate Community Junior School. The design team along with teachers, lifeboat crewmen, members of the council landscape group and event sponsors Keepmoat planted out the last parts of the design at the opening ceremony on Friday morning.

The Mayor helped to choose this colourful contribution to the annual carpet garden displays on the seafront and had praised the children for their outstanding contribution. Tollgates’ winning design will now be seen by hundreds of visitors and residents over the summer months.

Pupils from Langney Primary School were runners up in the competition and as a consolation prize were given a tour of Eastbourne lifeboat.

Eastbourne RNLI involved in medivac

Posted on June 13, 2013

Eastbourne RN m_DSC_0051 LI’s all-weather lifeboat was tasked this afternoon to assist with the evacuation of an injured crewman from a luxury pleasure craft off Eastbourne

The 72 metre cruiser Coral Island on passage to Gibraltar contacted Dover coastguard when the first officer fell and suffered facial injuries that required professional treatment. The initial intention was for Eastbourne all-weather lifeboat to take the injured man off the cruiser and take him to a waiting ambulance at Sovereign Harbour. En-route to the casualty it was evident that to complete a transfer in the prevailing weather conditions was going to be extremely hazardous in the strong winds and 3 metre swell. Lifeboat Coxswain Mark Sawyer therefore requested the scrambling of Coastguard rescue helicopter 104 to assist. Whilst the ALB stood by the injured man was airlifted from the cruiser and taken to Eastbourne DGH for treatment.

The cruiser later anchored in Eastbourne Bay to await news from the hospital of their injured colleague whilst the lifeboat returned to station.

Eastbourne RNLI search for disabled yacht

Posted on June 12, 2013

Eastbourne’s all-weather lifeboat was launched in the early hours of Tuesday morning (12 June) after radio communications indicated a yacht was in difficulties off Eastbourne

VHF radio communications were heard from the yacht Sea Spray which indicated the vessel had suffered a complete electrical failure somewhere near Eastbourne. The all-weather lifeboat (ALB) was launched at 01.38 to search the area from Belle Tout lighthouse, out to the Sovereign light tower and back to Norman’s Bay. No longer receiving a radio signal the volunteer crew aboard the ALB used their radar to scan the area in an attempt to locate the stricken vessel.

With nothing found, the ALB was stood down and returned to station at 04.00. No further reports have since been received regarding the destiny of Sea Spray which indicates the incident may have been a false alarm.

Sovereign Harbour celebrates 20th Birthday

Posted on June 7, 2013

Premier Marinas hosted a get-together of berth holders on Saturday afternoon to celebrate the 20^th anniversary of the opening of Sovereign Harbour with all proceeds from the event benefiting Eastbourne RNLI lifeboats

Berth holders were entertained by live band ‘Dirti Martini’ with complementary cocktails served by the staff of Premier Marinas. Local police and fire units supported the event along with the RNLI Sea Safety road show, Eastbourne RNLI fundraisers, Sovereign Harbour Rotary Club and other local organisations supporting the RYA active marina scheme. Cut price own boat tuition was supplied by instructors from Sovereign Harbour based training school Sea Training Sussex. Refreshments were served by ‘Flamini’ during the three hour event and a total of almost £1000 was raised for Eastbourne lifeboat which was gratefully received by Lifeboat Operations Manager Paul Metcalfe.