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The official page of Salcombe Lifeboat Station.

30/10/2026

RNLI Salcombe receive a welcome boost.

Salcombe Lifeboat Station welcomed Crispin Jones from Waterborn this week to present his donation to the RNLI. Crispin has represented Team GB and runs SUP (paddle board) training and events on the Salcombe and Kingsbridge Estuary. This year’s SUP The Creek event raised £740, donated by competitors, towards the Salcombe Lifeboat Appeal, an amazing effort.

RNLI rescues have changed over the last 20 years, and a larger number of our shouts now include small inshore craft, including SUP’s. The work Crispin does providing professional training and coaching for new and experienced paddle boarders goes a long way to make sure people in our area don’t need the services of the RNLI.

Thank you, Crispin, see you on the water!

30/10/2026

LIfeboat Operations Manager to step down next year:

After 4 very successful years as Salcombe RNLI’s Lifeboat Operations Manager, Nigel Blazeby is stepping down in March next year (but remaining as a volunteer launching authority). We are now looking for a worthy successor in this critical volunteer role. A link to the official advertisement is in the comments and applications will need to be in by 30th November. Final interviews will take place in Salcombe on 7th and 8th December with the aim of making an appointment in time for a good handover period.

29/10/2026

Appeal underway to help fund Salcombe's new RNLI lifeboat.

The RNLI has launched a community fundraising appeal to raise £450,000 towards a new Shannon class lifeboat for Salcombe RNLI, helping ensure the station's volunteer crews have the best possible lifesaving equipment for the future.
The Salcombe Lifeboat Appeal will support the arrival of a new Shannon class all-weather lifeboat, due to come on service at the station in 2027.
The appeal gets underway as local supporters and businesses have already begun backing the campaign, helping build momentum for fundraising efforts over the coming months.
The RNLI's new Shannon class lifeboat for Salcombe will cost £2.7 million. Through a partnership that has supported Salcombe RNLI since the 1960s, London based financial services company The Baltic Exchange has committed to raising £1.25 million towards the new lifeboat, with the new vessel set to be called The Baltic Exchange IV.
The Salcombe Lifeboat Appeal is aiming to raise a further £450,000 locally, giving the community an opportunity to play a direct role in funding the station's future lifesaving service. Together, these fundraising efforts will contribute £1.7 million towards the new lifeboat, with a further £1 million being provided through legacy donations.
In 2027, the new Shannon class lifeboat will replace Salcombe's current Tamar class lifeboat, The Baltic Exchange III, which has served the community since 2008.
At Salcombe, the state-of-the-art Shannon class lifeboat will work alongside the station's Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat to provide lifesaving cover along the south Devon coast. As the RNLI's most advanced all-weather lifeboat, it is designed to operate in some of the most challenging rescue conditions.

The RNLI has launched a community fundraising appeal to raise £450,000 towards a new Shannon class lifeboat for Salcombe RNLI, helping ensure the station's volunteer crews have the best possible lifesaving equipment for the future.

27/10/2026

Today marks 110 years since the Salcombe lifeboat disaster.

On 27 October 1916, a rescue mission ended in tragedy. It became one of the worst disasters in RNLI history.

The lifeboat William and Emma had been called to help the Western Lass, which had been wrecked in a storm near Prawle Point. Despite huge waves at Salcombe Bar, the crew made it out to sea. When they reached the wreck, they found that the schooner's crew had already been rescued by the rocket apparatus team at Prawle. The lifeboat crew headed home through near-hurricane-force winds. As they tried to cross Salcombe Bar again, the lifeboat capsized. Only two of the 15 crew members survived.

One survivor, Eddie Distin, later became the station's coxswain and served until retiring in 1951. Eddie's great-grandson James continues the family's tradition of service as a member of the current Salcombe Lifeboat crew.

24/10/2026

22/10/2026

⚠️ With Storm Austen forecast to bring strong winds and heavy rain to the South West, we're urging everyone to take extra care around the coast. Strong winds are expected in some coastal areas, creating dangerous conditions at beaches, cliffs and seafronts.

🚩 Some RNLI lifeguarded beaches remain open during half term, but conditions may be extremely challenging. RNLI lifeguards may fly red flags where conditions are considered too dangerous to enter the water.

🌊 Stay well back from the water's edge and avoid taking unnecessary risks.

If you get into trouble in the water, remember Float to Live.

If you see someone in difficulty, remember Phone, Float, Throw:
📞 Call 999 and ask for the Coastguard
🛟 Tell them to float
🔵 Throw something that floats

Find out more: rnli.org/safety

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is reminding those visiting the coast to be aware of the dangers as Storm Austen is expected to bring strong winds and heavy rain to the South West from late Thursday into Friday.

05/10/2026

Congratulations to Salcombe RNLI Deputy Second Coxswain Chris Roberts and Jemma.

Chris and Jemma decided on a small, quiet wedding with family and close friends at The Moult, Salcombe, this past weekend. The intimate celebration, however, came with something of a surprise when an uninvited friend appeared on the horizon, creating an unexpected and memorable moment in their special day.

One of their shared passions is ‘Devon Young Fishers’, a charity they set up to help young children get involved in the fishing industry and discover more about life on the water. With fishing playing such an important part in their lives, what could have been more fitting for the reception than ‘fancy fish and chips’, with the fish caught by Chris and Jemma themselves?

Both Chris and Jemma said: ‘We were blown away when the lifeboat came down and stood off for us, during their weekly exercises. It is a big part of our life, and it meant so much that people took time out of their day to do it for us.’ The gesture added an especially personal touch to an already memorable celebration and reflected just how closely their wedding; their community and their love of the sea were connected.

Address

Unity House, Union Street
Salcombe
TQ88BZ

Telephone

+441548842158

Website

http://www.salcombelifeboat.co.uk/

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