The Longhope Lifeboat

Latest news : March 2007

Apologies for not updating this site earlier. We will try to get up-to-date as soon as we can.

Our new Tamar class boat "The Helen Comrie"  was sailed up by the crew in Oct. 2006.

On the passage she stopped at Salcombe, Lizard, Padstow, Wicklow, Kilkeel, Donaghadee, Oban, Tobermory, Portree, and Thurso lifeboat stations. 

On her arrival she was escorted by the "Thomas McCunn" , "The Queen Mother" and the Thurso and Stromness lifeboats. Also welcomed by the tugs (names to follow) and a flypast by "Oscar Charlie" SAR helicopter.

There will be a naming ceremony on the 14th.  June 2007 and anyone wanting to attend is welcome.

This space is "work in progress".

The Princess Royal will be officially opening our museum on the 28th. May 2002.

A lot of preparation is going on here for the big day, everyone is very busy painting and polishing.

Update: Go to the museum and click on News for photos

The 'SIR MAX AITKEN II' was delivered here in 1999 and is an Arun class lifeboat
She replaced the 'Lord Saltoun' which was the last boat to be launched from the Brims lifeboat shed, ending with a special ceremony to mark the end of an era on the 11th September 1999.
A large turnout of islanders and well-wishers were there to witness this event.
Longhope officially then became an afloat station based at Longhope Pier.
A new lifeboat shed has been built and the pier extended to berth the new boat.
The former Coxswain, Ian McFadyen retired this year after 35 years service in the RNLI.

Number of Launches:- 14
Number of Lives Saved:- 0
Coxswain: Kevin Kirkpatrick 2002-

Since the arrival of the ‘Sir Max Aitken II’ most of the calls she has answered has been to assist vessels or to tow them back to safety, one such incident accrued when the fishing boat ‘Challenger’ capsized at the back of Brims while on route home.
The Lifeboat stood by ready to assist, while the crew of the 'Challenger' were picked up by the fishing vessel ‘Incentive’.
The Lifeboat took the upturned boat in tow but it sank shortly after, the incident was recorded and the Lifeboat returned to her station.