RNLI Girvan Lifeboat

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RNLI Girvan Lifeboat

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Girvan has been a location for an RNLI lifeboat for over 150 years, We have a Shannon Class lifeboat

Girvan has had a lifeboat launching off the south west coast of Scotland for over 150 years, providing search and rescue cover for both commercial and leisure mariners. Today’s station operates an all weather Mersey class lifeboat.

25/10/2026

Storm Boelo

25/10/2026

Girvan lifeboat launches at the height of storm Boelo

At 00:37hrs Sunday 25th October, Girvan Lifeboat's volunteer crew were paged for immediate launch, with the full force of storm Boelo hitting the country, and the worst of the storm hitting as we were paged.

With the local weather around girvan harbour area between Force 11 wind (classified as a Violent Storm) and upwards of Force 12 (classified as a hurricane) our volunteer crew didn't hesitate and were soon arriving at the lifeboat station.

Information passed to our duty Coxwain and crew by our launch authorities was a person in the water at Ayr, with no time to lose our crew were making their way weaving over the debris on the jetty brought by the storm and high tide out to the Shannon Class all-weather Lifeboat 'Elizabeth and Gertrude Allan'

With the engines started, ropes dropped Girvan Lifeboat left her berth and headed out of sight, shortly after launching, a cancel launch was received along with a stand down request from Belfast Coastguard, with this The lifeboat turned around and headed back to the harbour and was back alongside our berth and securely tied up and our crew after debriefing all returned home to their beds.

Lifeboat Operations Manager John Gourlay, said of the launch it's a testiment to the crew of Girvan Lifeboat, that without question or hesitation they answered the call and went to sea at the height of storm Boelo, and like all lifeboat crews up and down the country who would do the exact same, we're always ready when the call for help comes in.

If anyone would like to help support us, you can donate via the link below.

https://justgiving.com/campaign/rnligirvan

23/10/2026

⚠️Storm Austen and Boelo

If you are heading near the coast this weekend or live by the sea.

Here are some important safety tips.

● Always Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return.

● Check the weather and tide times before you set out.

● Stay away from big waves and the edge of cliffs, the pier and general quayside areas when the wind picks up. If you need to lean into the wind it's time to move away, and if you can feel the spray from a big wave you’re too close.

● Avoid the temptation of getting that awesome weather selfie. Remember that the pros are taking their pictures with a long lens from a safe distance, usually approximately a quarter of a mile a,way or more using a telephoto lens.

● Carry a mobile phone with you in case you need to call for assistance and make sure it's charged.

● Remember ‘Float to Live’: if you find yourself unexpectedly in the water.

● If you see someone in trouble or believe someone to be in trouble at sea or along our coast, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard. Don't risk becoming a casualty yourself.

19/10/2026

Girvan lifeboat was launched yesterday evening just before 11pm, and has just returned to station at 06:00hrs

Details of the callout if appropriate will be posted later.

12/10/2026

Lifeboat Callout

At 17:21 Sunday 11th October

After a 999 call to the Coastguard by a concerned member of the public, reporting concern for a vessel, with reports of no movement of the vessel itself and nor could anyone be seen for a number of hours, .

Girvan's all-weather Shannon Class Lifeboat 'Elizabeth and Gertrude Allan' was soon launched at the request of Belfast Coastguard, with 6 volunteer crew aboard.

Girvan lifeboat proceeded to the reported location just off Craig Tara Holiday Park, at the Heads Of Ayr.

On arrival on scene our crew made contact with the occupants who were engaged in diving, that all was well and there was no cause for concern.

Girvan lifeboat then returned to her berth ready for service at approximately 19:00 and was made ready for the next service call.

This was a normal call out initiated with good intent from a concerned member of the public with regard to the safety of persons engaged in marine leisure activities.

Girvan's on Duty DLA David Bova said of the callout " in this instance it was a false alarm with good intent, the caller did the right thing in calling the emergency services, we would always rather be called out at the earliest opportunity than possibly not called at all, with members of the public possibly thinking nothing of it and potentially not bothering, if you believe someone to be in trouble at sea or along our coast, please dial 999 and ask for the COASTGUARD right away"

01/10/2026

Along with our colleagues from around the UK & Ireland, everyone at Girvan Lifeboat is deeply saddened with the news reaching us from our RNLI family at Hastings today.

The flag at Girvan lifeboat station has been lowered to half-mast today 1 October as a mark of respect following the tragic passing of a crew member from Hastings RNLI yesterday evening.

🙏 Our condolences & the thoughts and prayers of everyone at Girvan lifeboat station are with their family, friends and crew.

This is the 2nd time our stations flag has descended to half mast in this last week, with the sad news of Former coastal training lead Peter McColl, Peter visited Girvan station many times over the years, passing out crew on a wide range of training, consolidating training and assisting our station in taking normal everyday folks and helping to mould them into fully fledged crew, our thoughts and condolences are also with Peters family, friends, former colleagues and crewmembers who served with him.and knew him well.

May you have fair winds and following seas

27/09/2026

📸 A MASSIVE THANK YOU TO PAUL YOUNG! 📸

We’d like to say a huge thank you to Paul Young for giving up his evening and spending the night with us to capture some fantastic photographs from Gary’s 30-Year RNLI Service Celebration. 🚤⚓️

Paul did an amazing job capturing all the special moments throughout the evening — from the speeches and presentations to the laughter, celebrations and, of course, the crew hitting the dance floor! 🕺💃

These photographs will be fantastic memories of a very special night celebrating an incredible 30 years of service to the RNLI. ❤️

We really appreciate you taking the time to be there and capturing the evening for Gary, his family, friends and the whole Girvan RNLI crew.

Thank you, Paul — absolutely brilliant job! 👏📸

Address

Knockcushan Street
Girvan
KA269AG

Telephone

+441465714454

Website

https://justgiving.com/campaign/rnligirvan

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