Freshwater Bay Independent Lifeboat Station
| Freshwater Lifeboat Station | |
|---|---|
Freshwater Lifeboat Station. | |
Freshwater, Isle of Wight | |
| General information | |
| Type | Lifeboat Station |
| Location | The Boathouse, Freshwater Bay, Freshwater, Isle of Wight, PO40 9RA, England |
| Coordinates | 50°40′13.0″N 1°30′36.7″W / 50.670278°N 1.510194°W |
| Opened | 1972 |
| Owner | The Freshwater Bay Independent Lifeboat Service, which is a registered charity |
| Website | |
| Freshwater Lifeboat | |
Freshwater Lifeboat Station is located on Gate Lane at Freshwater Bay, just south of the village of Freshwater, at the western end of the Isle of Wight, in the United Kingdom.[1]
The station was established in 1972, and is owned and operated by the Freshwater Independent Lifeboat Service. Freshwater Lifeboat is on call to H.M. Coastguard 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The station covers an area up to 30 miles (48 km) off shore from Hurst Point to St Catherine's point.[2]
The station currently operates a Atlantic 85-class Inshore lifeboat, The Jillian Scott:Spirit of the West Wight V, on station since 2024, and a smaller D-class (IB1) Inshore lifeboat, The Warren J & B, on station since 2020.[3]
Freshwater Lifeboat is a registered charity (No. 293657). The service is not part of the RNLI and does not receive funding from the RNLI or the government.[4]
On 6 July 2024, a ceremony was held at Freshwater, at the launch of the new £180,000 Atlantic 85-class Inshore lifeboat. With a blessing from the Rev. Lisa Potter, and entertainment from both the Bay Wailers and The Brass Monkeys, Jason Fox of the television series SAS: Who Dares Wins attended with his wife, and named the lifeboat The Jillian Scott: Spirit of the West Wight V.[3]
Station honours
The following are awards made at Freshwater.
- Stephen William Norris, Senior Coxswain – 2002NYH[5]
Lifeboats
| Name | On Station | Class | Engine | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spirit of the West Wight | ????–2005 | 8.8 m (29 ft) Ribcraft RIB | Twin 115-hp Mercury | |
| Spirit of the West Wight II | 2005–2013 | Ribcraft RIB | Twin 225-hp Yamaha | |
| Spirit of the West Wight III | 2013–2020 | Ribcraft RIB | Inboard | |
| The Berry "B" | ????–2022 | D-class (IB1) | Single 50-hp Mercury | |
| Spirit of the West Wight IV | 2020–2024 | Atlantic 75 | Twin 90-hp Yamaha | Formerly RNLB Victor "Danny" Lovelock (B-784) at Lymington |
| The Warren J & B | 2022– | D-class (IB1) | Single 50-hp Mariner | Formerly RNLB Vision of Tamworth (D-733) at Barrow |
| The Jillian Scott: Spirit of the West Wight V | 2024– | Atlantic 85 | Twin 115-hp Yamaha | Formerly RNLB Lydia Macdonald (B-804) at Macduff |
See also
References
- ^ OS Explorer Map OL29 - Isle of Wight, Folded Map. Publisher:Ordnance Survey; B2 edition (17 Mar 2008). ISBN 9780319240151
- ^ "Freshwater Lifeboat home page". Retrieved 25 January 2015.
- ^ a b Butler, Mal (9 July 2024). "Launch of Spirit of West Wight V new lifeboat at Freshwater". Isle of Wight Observer. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
- ^ "Freshwater Lifeboat: About". Retrieved 25 January 2015.
- ^ "Ordinary Members of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order of the British Empire". The Gazette. London Gazette. Retrieved 30 September 2025.