Situated in the South Wales coastal resort of Porthcawl at the eastern end of the Esplanade, Porthcawl NCI Station is located in the old Victorian Pilot Lookout Tower built in 1870, and is a Grade 2 listed building, adjacent to the RNLI Station. The Station commenced operational training in the lookout on 21st April this year after a lengthy delay due to damp issues following complete refurbishment of the building, which was constructed in 1870 (Grade 2 listed). Our 'official' opening took place on Friday May 20th in the Crew room of Porthcawl RNLI – attended by the First Minister of Wales – Carwyn Jones, Madeleine Moon MP, NCI Chairman Lesley Suddes together with Alan Richards ex Chairman NCI, plus the Mayors of both Bridgend and Porthcawl. Colleagues from Nells Point and Worms Head and many of the groups, organisations and individuals who had helped us in the setting up and equipping of the lookout also attended. Our field of view stretches east up to Nash Point on the Welsh side of the Channel, over to Minehead and down to Ilfracombe in the west. The Bristol Channel has the second highest tidal range in the world - second only to the Bay of Fundy in Canada – where at Burncoat Head the range reaches nearly 16 metres (around 52 feet) – The tidal range in the Bristol Channel is in excess of 15 metres (around 49 feet). These figures can be much higher depending on weather conditions - especially temperature, air pressure and wind direction. The volume of water moving up and down the Bristol Channel during the tidal flows is huge and speeds in excess of 5 knots can be expected at times. All commercial traffic bound for the upper Bristol Channel Ports of Bristol, Sharpness, Cardiff, Newport and Barry pass the lookout but at a distance of 6 to 10 miles. Traffic for Swansea to our West, is some 10 miles distant. The lookout has been refurbished with grant funding from the Townscape Heritage Initiative, by Bridgend County Borough Council and the full support of Porthcawl Town Council. The lookout was in use during both the First and Second World Wars and has been used for various activities between those conflicts up until the 1960’s. Porthcawl is a popular destination all year round, with visitors from all over the world for the surfing and the ‘Elvis’ Festival. The harbour has recently been refurbished with lock gates and moorings for some 70 boats, ensuring an increase in marine traffic. There are also several beaches in view of the lookout. On the North side of the Channel there are several beaches in view from the lookout – from Ogmore in the East right through to the notable Town Beach featured in the television programme ‘Coast’ in the West. The lookout itself has also featured regularly on local, national and even international weather and news programmes as far afield as Australia, as a backdrop showing some spectacular storm scenes. The increase in coastal leisure users from swimmers, surfers, kitesurfers, walkers and fishermen, plus the high tidal ranges in the Bristol Channel, means that the maritime rescue and emergency services are kept busy. Access:
Access to the lookout is via the Esplanade. With a plentiful mix of free and paid parking, coffee shops, restaurants and other amenities and the Town Centre adjacent to the Esplanade, all visitors can easily access most areas, including the lookout. Visitor Policy:
At the present time the lookout is open every day - and visitors would normally be most welcome – although when an incident is on-going this may not always be convenient and the duty watchkeepers may ask that visitors call back later. You may even see a lifeboat launch and recovery at this time, from just behind the lookout. With completion of the refurbishment at the old Victorian Pilot Lookout during the Summer of 2015, plus the redevelopment of the Harbour area by Bridgend County and Borough Council (BCBC) and the full support of Porthcawl Town Council, this part of the South Wales coast is well served by Lifesaving and Surf Rescue groups. With the Porthcawl RNLI Lifeboat Station situated just behind us and celebrating their 50th Anniversary in 2015, all coastal users and visitors to the beaches can feel more confident in terms of safety. Porthcawl NCI station it is hoped, will eventually provide daytime coastal surveillance seven days a week during Winter and Summer, with our team of fully trained and dedicated volunteers playing their part in the U.K.’s search and rescue (SAR) organisation. Our thanks and acknowledgements must go to the management and crew of RNLI Porthcawl in allowing us the use of their own facility for our meetings and training sessions.
