National Coastwatch Institution gets high speed tour on Penlee Lifeboat

Lucky volunteer members and supporters from the National Coastwatch team who man watch stations in the area were treated to a high speed tour from Newlyn on Sunday.

After donning the necessary gear, the assembled passengers headed out through the gaps with cox Patch Harvey at the helm of the Beth Sell (the Ivan Ellen is away for a major refit up at Poole). All hands immediately felt the full effect of the two 1250 Hp Cat engines as the boat sped past the anchored Anglian Princess and headed for Mousehole Island.

The National Coastwatch Institution, formed in 1994 after two inshore fishermen lost their lives in sight of a recently closed Coastguard watch station. Bass Point, the first of 36, watch stations on the Lizard was then opened by nearby resident Jenny Agutter. Following the Coastguard cuts, many former local stations have since been re-opened including Gwennap Head near Land's End.

The NCI, which also operates a watch station in Penzance, is currently seeking more volunteers to join the dedicated team that man the watch stations 365 days of the year. Volunteers receive training in all aspects of watch keeping and provide a highly valued safety support for inshore mariners around the coast of the UK. For more details and joining information there is an online form to be used or, for the local watch station, you can call 01736 36703.