Welcome to the Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat website
Being an Island, the sea is a major part of our lives. We travel across it (it is the main way to get on and off the Isle of Wight) , we sit by it, we sail on it and even swim in it.
We enjoy our sea environment…. until something goes wrong.
And trouble can come quite unexpectedly. A dinghy can capsize; a swimmer can get caught in a current; there can be an injury aboard a large ocean racer; or an engine can quite simply fail. What was fun, now becomes a nightmare.
We assume outside help will be at hand and, fortunately, it is. The Isle of Wight has RNLI lifeboat stations and other support services which are co-ordinated by H M Coastguard Service in an actual rescue. Among these services are four independent Inshore Lifeboats – Cowes, Ryde, Freshwater and Sandown & Shanklin. These inshore stations receive NO financial backing from the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institute) or from any other body, apart from some ‘pump priming’ support grants from the Solent Sea Rescue Organisation. To qualify for this money, stringent standards have to be met.
But sustaining the service is down to the local community and the volunteer workforce.
So, if you’ve ever been rescued, or know someone who has, spare a thought to the cost, not only in cash terms (each launch costs £40-£50 in fuel), but in terms of commitment. The Sandown & Shanklin crew are 16 in number and maintain a 24 hour service, 7 days per week, 365 days a year. They are supported by their families – without that backing they could not commit themselves. In addition to the crew, there are dedicated members who work ashore. Much time is spent organising fundraising events, as it is a continuing struggle to raise money to meet running costs.
Sandown & Shanklin need a new boathouse. The existing one needs to be rebuilt to put more distance between it and the cliff. A strong retaining wall needs to be erected. This project is costed at £180,000 plus - Plans of the new boathouse can be seen in The Equipment section.
All Inshore Lifeboats are continually looking for new members, both operational and shore support. Without this volunteer workforce our Island would be a more precarious place.
It certainly needs dogged persistence and good eyesight to locate a swimmer in distress. It is also apparent that dogged persistence is required to maintain any voluntary organisation – we are indeed fortunate that there are people around who have the vision, charity and determination to do just that.
They deserve our support
If you feel that you can help in any way, either by becoming a crew member, donations or by helping in fundraising, please contact us at the Sandown Lifeboat Station on (01983) 405999 or E-mail Us.
Please feel free to browse around the site and any feedback is more than welcome.
At sea call the Coastguard on Channel 16 or Dial 999 if on land and ask for the coastguard.
You rely on us….. We rely on you!
When using the island’s Southern waters, you can rely on Sandown & Shanklin Lifeboat crew to have your safety in our hands if an emergency arose.
We are here 24 hours per day, 365 days per year and are trained and prepared for every eventuality, should an emergency call-out be made.
Regardless of:-
· weather conditions
· time of day or night
· possible dangers to the crew themselves
Our purely voluntary service dedicate all efforts to ensure you can rely on us!
With the growing number of recreational craft, coupled with commercial shipping and fishing vessels using our waters, we find ourselves called out more frequently, all putting a strain on resources and equipment.
Without public support/donations we cannot maintain an excellent standard of service and this could cost lives.
Please help us - to save lives at sea
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL LIFEBOAT.
Our unit needs in the region of £15,000 per year to operate efficiently.
The Sandown and Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat is a registered charity (number 299584) and all donations are gratefully received.
If you like to make a donation please download the Gift Aid form below, print the form out, fill in the details and then send it to the address on the form.
Or why not use a faster way, we now use PayPal, you know for sure that we will get your donation and not lost somewhere in the post.
Look for the PayPal DONATE button on the website.
Click Gift Aid logo or here to download the form.
Thank You for your support.
- Please do not send the form back via e-mail, as a postal address is given - Thank You
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