The inshore lifeboat station at Cowes, Isle of Wight, joined the RNLI fold on 1 July.

The trustees of the town’s independent lifeboat service, which had been serving the community for 19 years, asked the RNLI to take on responsibility for running the station. This brings the number of RNLI lifeboat stations around the UK and RoI to 235. ’

The station’s newly-appointed Lifeboat Operations Manager, Paul Townsend, says: ‘Cowes inshore lifeboat has been very well respected and has provided an effective and important lifesaving service since it was established. The majority of the crew have transferred to the RNLI and they are very much looking forward to working under the umbrella of such a dedicated service.’

A relief Atlantic 85 lifeboat, Tabbycat, has been placed on service until the station gets its own permanent boat. The crew’s first shout in their RNLI lifeboat came on 4 July, when they towed back to harbour a motorboat that had lost power. They had been training with their new equipment since May.

RNLI Operations Director Michael Vlasto said, in the run-up to the world-famous Cowes Week regatta: ‘It is a very busy time of year in the waters around Cowes and I have every confidence that the volunteer crew will continue to carry out the excellent lifesaving work they have in the past.’ There are now three RNLI lifeboat stations on the Isle of Wight – Cowes, Yarmouth and Bembridge. Cowes is also home to the RNLI’s Inshore Lifeboat Centre, where the charity builds, fits out and repairs its B class and D class lifeboats.