Newquay RNLI lifeboat station is to receive a new state
of the art Atlantic 85
lifeboat this summer. It will replace the existing
Atlantic 75 inshore lifeboat that has served at the station for 12 years.
The late Mrs
Gladys Hay of Saltash left a generous bequest in her will to fund the
purchase of RNLI lifeboat, stipulating that it was to be allocated to a
Cornish station. The volunteer crews in Newquay are delighted and honoured
that they will benefit from her wish.
The new
lifeboat is due to arrive on station in July 2007 and will be named
Gladys Mildred, after Mrs Hay. The current lifeboat, Phyllis,
will continue to serve the RNLI becoming part of the
vital relief fleet.
Gareth Horner, RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager at Newquay says:
‘The new Atlantic 85 will ensure Newquay is covered by the very latest
design of inshore lifeboat:
’The Atlantic 85 is the third generation Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) and has
been developed from the Atlantic 21 and 75. The first Atlantic 85’s were
put into service in 2005, but this is the first one to be based in Cornwall
and we are delighted to be receiving her.
‘Newquay’s volunteer crew members will benefit from the ability to carry a
fourth crew member and offer a faster response time, 35 knots compared to 32
knots on the Atlantic 75. The Atlantic 85 also has radar capabilites and
more room for casualties.’
Kevin Gee,
Newquay RNLI lifeboat volunteer helmsman says:
'For the last 16 years I have been a volunteer lifeboat man and have been on
hundreds of shouts in all weathers. Many a night shout in poor weather, but
we always know we have the tool for the job in Phyllis! She's been a fine
servant to the crew of the Newquay Lifeboat and saved countless lives. '
Mark Morris,
Newquay RNLI lifeboat volunteer helmsman says:
'The Atlantic 85 will be well used in Newquay, a lot of the work we do is
towing fishing boats back to the harbour that have broken down or have
picked up ropes or old net in their propellers. This can be as far as 15
miles out, so the increase in speed, radar and radio tracking will help us
search and rescue faster.
'Over the last few years the size of the fishing boats in Newquay have got
larger, with some boats as much as 20 tons, which have pushed our present
lifeboat to its limits that we can safely tow. The increase in size and more
importantly bigger more powerful engines of the new lifeboat will overcome
these problems.'
