The Guernsey Lifeboat Guild “Mayday, Mayday” event is on Sunday 3rd. May, from 1pm to 4pm, at Le Friquet Garden Centre. It will be held in a marquee on the grass in the entrance.
There will be static displays of a D-Class inshore Lifeboat and model lifeboats, plus face-painting for children, plus a fancy-dress competition at 3pm for children who come in a maritime-type costume e.g. pirates, sailors etc.
We will also have a stall of Lifeboat merchandise and the opportunity to meet the two newest crew-members.
2014 was the second busiest year ever for the RNLI St. Peter Port lifeboat station. The lifeboat was called out on service 38 times during the year, including calls on both 30th and 31st December. The busiest year ever was in 1991 when the station lifeboat was called to assist on 43 occasions.
In addition to operational call-outs, the lifeboat crew were also on exercise afloat on a further 49 occasions. The high number of exercises was largely associated with the need to completely re- familiarise the volunteer crew with characteristics of firstly the relief lifeboat ‘Daniel L Gibson’ and then the major changes following a million pound plus refit of the ‘Spirit of Guernsey’ which saw new MTU engines, and new electronics and navigation / search software systems fitted.
‘Spirit of Guernsey’ has been the St. Peter Port Station lifeboat since 1997.
The RNLI is funded entirely by voluntary contributions. At this time of year the crew would like to thank all Guernsey Lifeboat supporters for their continued help and generosity
Peter Gill
Lifeboat Operations Manager
St. Peter Port lifeboat Station
31st December, 2014 1432 A call was received by Guernsey Coastguard from St John Ambulance and Rescue Service advising them that they had received a call from two people that were trapped on Lihou after they had an accident with … Continue reading →
The Guernsey lifeboat station is one of only four in the Channel Islands. Operating for over 200 years, the crews of the Guernsey lifeboats have been honoured with several awards for gallantry.
Spirit of Guernsey at speed – photo by Tony Rive
The Station has seen a variety of lifeboats over the years and the current lifeboat is the Severn class ‘Spirit of Guernsey’. The Island has always been proud to support the Lifeboat Station and crews; in 1973 a special appeal raised a considerable sum towards the cost of the Arun Class “Sir William Arnold”.
Twenty years later an appeal was launched to raise £1 million to support the building of “Spirit of Guernsey”. Thanks to the generosity of friends in Guernsey, Sark, Herm and further afield, the target was achieved within one year. The RNLI relies entirely on voluntary donations.
Following a six-month training and familiarisation period, July 2019 saw the introduction of a ‘B’ Class Atlantic 85 Inshore Rescue lifeboat – the Elizabeth and Margaret Milligan (B-889) on a two-year trial for evaluation.
The relief St Peter Port lifeboat was called to the aid of the 11 metre vessel ”Wavedancer” after it called Guernsey Coastguard for assistance.
The Jersey registered motor cruiser with two persons on board had picked up some floating rope in both propellers, which completely disabled the vessel.
The Daniel L Gibson left St Peter Port at 14:03 Local Time and arrived safely back with the casualty in tow at 16:20
