Newquay RNLI Lifeboat Website

Newquay RNLI lifeboat day was a huge success with bumper crowds despite a few “technical glitches”.

Glorious weather had the harbour heaving with people; the perfect start to Lifeboat day.

Volunteer crew and fundraisers were on hand, all adding their own contributions to the smooth running of the event. Ted Gundry commentated ensuring that everyone knew exactly what was happening and when. If you had money in your pockets the fundraising team had plenty of tempting stalls to ensure that you had no excuse not to spend your money. It was possible to put on about a stone in weight if you had tried all their home baked cakes and goodies for those watching their waistlines there were plants, tombola and a raffle.

The volunteer launching crew, the crew behind the scenes without whom the boats would not be put to sea, had the first task, the boats were transferred across to the beach – those fundraising ladies are a formidable force, lifeboats do not have a place in a lifeboat station on lifeboat day – get them out!

The lifeboats boats launched to escort Padstow RNLI’s Tamar Class lifeboat, Spirit of Padstow, into the harbour. It was after this that it became evident that there was a problem with Phyllis, the Atlantic class lifeboat. Phyllis is a RIB boat – rigid hull with inflatable sponsons (the blow up bits around the side). The crew had spotted that the sponsons were parting from the hull and bought her back to the harbour for the station mechanics to have a look.

It is thought that this damage was probably sustained on Saturday’s shout when the crew were rescuing two people from heavy surf. At one point the boat was completely swamped by heavy waves. The crew lost their visors off their helmets. This coupled with the fact that the last couple of months have included a lot of heavy sea work is suspected to have caused the damage.

So, at approximately 12:00 noon, the Atlantic lifeboat was taken off station. At the same time, an Atlantic lifeboat was dispatched by road from RNLI HQ in Poole. The relief lifeboat, Daisy Aitken was on station and ready to go at approximately 18:00 hrs. The RNLI’s back up relief fleet is on standby 24/7.

Next was the SAR (search and rescue) demonstration, with the Atlantic lifeboat missing the show would still go on. However, true to the disclaimer on the timetable, “subject to operational requirements”, with minutes to go the RNAS Culdrose helicopter was diverted to a 999 emergency. Newquay’s D class lifeboat, Valerie Wilson, the Padstow lifeboat and a local fishing vessel, Spirit of Cornwall, improvised: boat on fire, men over board and men stranded on rocks all lead to an entertaining display.

At 15:00 hrs, RNAS Culdrose, having completed their emergency was able to entertain the crowds with a fly by. They had suffered a technical glitch with their radio and were eager to get back to base to resolve it before the next emergency.

Funky Feet danced in front of the boat house followed by a TaeKwondo demonstration of the beach. The crowds watched and then the mist and the rain came.

The weather scuppered the finale to a fantastic day, the Royal Artillery parachute jump.

However, despite the hiccups, the show went on and over £4,500 was raised for Newquay RNLI.

Newquay RNLI extends its thanks to all who have contributed to today’s event: The volunteer crew & fundraisers, Padstow lifeboat crew, RNAS Culdrose, Environment Agency, HM Coastguard, Newquay Fire Service, Coconut Shy (Mr Yeomans), Shark throwing (Derek Aunger, Harbour master), St John’s Ambulance Brigade, Cornwall Air Ambulance – Flying visit, Stormy Sam – (Can’t tell you who!) and Paulo’s Circus