Inshore Lifeboat

Our very own ILB was delivered to Guernsey in March 2024. Various names for the boat were suggested but the general consensus of the crew was that she should be named Harold Hobbs after the only Guernsey lifeboat crewmember to have been killed on active service.

Harold was shot by a German aircraft on 28 June 1940 when the Guernsey lifeboat was en route to St Helier.

Our own naming ceremony was held on 28 June 2024 and the lifeboat was named by Harold’s son Tony Hobbs. We were honoured that the ceremony was attended by the new Chief Executive of the RNLI, Peter Sparkes and his wife.

Jim Le Pelley, Chairman

Capable of operating in weather up to a force 6, Harold Hobbs permits room for four crew members.

She is a RIB (Rigid Inflatable) 8.5 metres in length, powered by two 115 horse power Yamaha petrol engines and has a top speed of 35 knots. The radar allows the crew to operate effectively in poor visibility and there is also VHF direction-finding equipment to assist in homing in on radio signals, which aids in locating casualties.

The vessel carries a comprehensive range of rescue and first aid equipment and has a manually operated self-righting mechanism which combined with inversion-proofed engines keeps the lifeboat operational even after capsize. The lifeboat can be beached in an emergency without causing damage to its engines or steering gear.

The Atlantic 85 which was introduced to the RNLI fleet in 2005 also carries a full suite of communication and electronic navigation aids, similar to that fitted on the much larger “Spirit of Guernsey” as well as a searchlight, night-vision equipment and flares for night-time operations.

See https://www.stpeterportlifeboat.org.gg/lifeboat-timeline/lifeboat-timeline-1900-1999/harold-hobbs/ for further information.