NCI - Calshot Tower & Stone Point

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NCI - Calshot Tower & Stone Point National Coastwatch Institution -
NCI Calshot Tower - call sign: Calshot NCI
NCI Stone Point (at Lepe) - call sign: Stone Point NCI Full training is provided.

NCI Calshot is the result of months of phone calls, letters and hard work carried out by the Trustees of the National Coastwatch Institution coupled with the generosity of Associated British Ports who allow NCI free use of the tower. National Coastwatch is a registered charity: No. 1159975


Our mission is quite simple – we are the ‘Eyes Along The Coast’, to Spot, Plot and Report. SPOT - we maintain a continuous visual watch from Ryde Steeple to our South East, Cowes to our South and from Fawley across to Netley, north of the lookout during daylight hours. PLOT – Identify the location of any incident so it can be plotted quickly on an Admiralty Chart or Ordnance Survey Map when reporting to the authorities

REPORT – contact call HM Coastguard at Lee-on-Solent who will decide on the best course of action to follow. Volunteers come from all walks of life with a number of watchkeepers having no previous maritime experience. A good pair of eyes and inquisitive nature are all you’ll need to join the team, we’ll teach you the rest all of which are excellent life skills; You’ll find out how to read Admiralty Charts and Ordnance Survey Maps: Understand how the moon dictates how tides work: You’ll get to know the Beaufort Wind scale is made up and learn some basic weather forecasting! You’ll almost certainly work with the emergency services providing valuable information and become familiar with Marine VHF radio. If you’d like to find out more please email [email protected]

(The NationalCoastwatch Institution does not endorse commercial firms or products mentioned on this page. This page in maintained by watchkeepers at Calshot whose aim is to simply provide useful information relative to our watch area.)

2nd place!  Huge Congratulations to our Watchkeeper, Jan Baker, who finished second in her age bracket in the Great Sout...
19/10/2026

2nd place! Huge Congratulations to our Watchkeeper, Jan Baker, who finished second in her age bracket in the Great South Run 10 mile only 29 seconds behind the winner. Jan ran dressed in her interpretation of the NCI Mascot "Spot".

Thanks to all who have sponsored Jan... and if you have not already done so, please sponsor her achievement: https://ow.ly/aGj050ZC5Hh Well done Jan and all of the team running in aid of the National Coastwatch Institution

In the Great South Run this Sunday 18th October our own Watchkeeper Jan Baker will be running in support of NCI dressed ...
15/10/2026

In the Great South Run this Sunday 18th October our own Watchkeeper Jan Baker will be running in support of NCI dressed as her version of the NCI Mascot "Spot". Good Luck to Jan... she deserves lots of our sponsorship! Please sponsor Jan at https://ow.ly/aGj050ZC5Hh .

After a visit to our stations, the current High Sheriff of Hamsphire (Mr. William Maltby) invited us to attend this year...
14/10/2026

After a visit to our stations, the current High Sheriff of Hamsphire (Mr. William Maltby) invited us to attend this years' Law Sunday Service in Wi******er Cathedral. The High Sheriff role dates back to Saxon times and, apart from the Monarchy, is the oldest secular office in the country and the only one surviving from Saxon Times. Attendees included Emergency Services, Police & Fire cadets and a number of voluntary and community groups, and, for the first time, NCI Calshot Tower & Stone Point! This is a welcoming and open service for all to attend. The music and singing was wonderful.

More photos of the event are on the Wi******er Cathedral page.

To the surprise of Watchkeeper Will B. in NCI Calshot Tower on Sunday 4th October this ship suddenly emerged from a fog ...
14/10/2026

To the surprise of Watchkeeper Will B. in NCI Calshot Tower on Sunday 4th October this ship suddenly emerged from a fog bank. The watchkeepers saw the bow of the ship first and then the top of the cranes apparently suspended in mid-air! The photo was taken from Calshot Tower as the ship passed on the way up Southampton Water.

They are the second pair of four container quay cranes being delivered to Southampton docks as part of a £60m investment. Each crane weighs more than 2000 tones and stands nearly 150m high, among the tallest in the world and largest in Europe. They can unload two 40ft containers at the same time (BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight).

You can sponsor our Calshot and Stone Point Watchkeeper Jan Baker (bottom right in photo) in the Great South Run on 18th...
12/10/2026

You can sponsor our Calshot and Stone Point Watchkeeper Jan Baker (bottom right in photo) in the Great South Run on 18th October at https://ow.ly/aGj050ZC5Hh ...Jan will be running as her version of our NCI mascot "Spot"!

The countdown is on!

This time next week, the Great South Run will be underway 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️

Our runners are close to their sponsorship targets...

Let's give our runners the boost they need for race day! 💪

Sponsor our runners here:
👉 https://ow.ly/TAkK50ZWyNg 👈

Please donate and share to help spread the word! Thank you!

Public donations keep our stations operational, and our "NCI Tombola" provides income and attracts attention to our NCI ...
11/10/2026

Public donations keep our stations operational, and our "NCI Tombola" provides income and attracts attention to our NCI publicity stall at local events. However we needed a better drum!

Following a Watchkeeper suggestion, we approached Fawley Men's Shed to ask if they could make us a Tombola Drum. Well, they did just that and the photos say it all. Watchkeeper Fiona C. was delighted when she went to collect it. It will be put to good use.

Thank you to Fawley Men's Shed, they make such great things and the workshop is well worth contacting if you need anything made in wood!

There are more than 60 Coastwatch Stations around the coast...
10/10/2026

There are more than 60 Coastwatch Stations around the coast...

Today is world mental health day.

It’s a day to recognise the importance of looking after our mental health, listening to people’s experiences and making sure every voice is heard. Sometimes, simply having someone who will listen, and stand alongside us can make a real difference.

Behind every National Coastwatch volunteer is a person with their own story, experiences and reasons for volunteering.

For some, Coastwatch provides a sense of purpose.

For others, it’s the friendships, the camaraderie and being part of a team.

Our volunteers spend their time looking out for people on the coast — keeping watch, raising the alarm when needed and offering reassurance to those who may need it.

“You’re loud and clear on Channel 65. Out.”

But that spirit of looking out doesn't stop when the watch ends.

Across our stations, watchkeepers look out for each other too. They share a conversation, offer support, notice when someone might need a little extra time or a listening ear, and make sure that no one feels they have to face things alone.

Because at National Coastwatch, looking out for people is what we do.

On the coast. In our stations. And within our Coastwatch Crew.

We look out for you.

We look out for each other.

After passing NCI Stone Point in Lepe Country Park - Hampshire County Council the event was viewed by our colleagues at ...
06/10/2026

After passing NCI Stone Point in Lepe Country Park - Hampshire County Council the event was viewed by our colleagues at NCI Needles.

Round the Isle of Wight by personal watercraft ("jet ski")!  Organised by the "Chaos Crew" who, despite the name, aim to...
06/10/2026

Round the Isle of Wight by personal watercraft ("jet ski")! Organised by the "Chaos Crew" who, despite the name, aim to promote responsible jet ski use, the event on Saturday 4th October attracted around 70 participants. They started from Ower Bay, just north of NCI Calshot Tower, and led by Hamble Lifeboat and with safety ribs and outriders, continued past NCI Stone Point and NCI Needles to finish back at Hamble in the afternoon. The event raised funds for both NCI and Hamble Lifeboat. More photos and information on our "Blog": https://calshot.wordpress.com/2026/10/06/chaos-crew-personal-watercraft-event/

The sunken yacht in the western Solent is being recovered.  This was the scene on the NCI Stone Point CCTV screen yester...
04/10/2026

The sunken yacht in the western Solent is being recovered. This was the scene on the NCI Stone Point CCTV screen yesterday afternoon. The yacht's mast is visible next to the recovery barge. Sconce Point on the Isle of Wight can be seen in the background.

The Solent Coastguard Maritime Safety Information broadcasts (MSI) have been warning of a 300m exclusion zone around the operation which involves divers. It would be a criminal offence to enter the zone which is in place until future notice.

For around three weeks in August/September 2025 the MSI broadcasts had warned of an unmanned and unlit yacht (about 55' in length) which was dragging its anchor in the western Solent. The yacht ended up about a few cables northwest of West Lepe buoy. On the weekend of 14th September the yacht sank in gale force winds with only part of the mast visible above the water. A few days later Trinity House put wreck marker buoys around the area.

Address

C/o Calshot Activity Centre
Calshot
SO451BR

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