Weymouth Lifeboat

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

https://rnli.org/news-and-media/2026/october/21/rnli-urges-public-to-stay-safe-in-the-south-west-during-storm-austen

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.

09/10/2026

Congratulations to Gareth Davies – Weymouth Lifeboat’s newest qualified helm!

For Gareth Davies, joining the RNLI was something he had wanted to do for many years. Gareth’s connection with lifeboats began when he was young. His family regularly visited Cromer in Norfolk, and the sight of the lifeboat at the end of the pier stayed with him. From his mid 20’s onwards, he became increasingly determined to volunteer with the RNLI.

Before settling in Weymouth, Gareth’s career took him from Somerset to South Devon, where he worked as a Music Technician at a college before becoming a Support Worker. While living in South Devon, he also volunteered with Dart Sailability, where he gained powerboat, safety boat, first aid and instructor qualifications. His growing interest in helping others, combined with his love of the coast, led him to train as a paramedic with the London Ambulance Service. He studied while working full time, beginning a six year career in London before eventually returning to the coast with his family. Weymouth was the obvious choice.

“I saw that Weymouth Lifeboat was recruiting on Facebook,” Gareth recalls. “For me, that was a really positive sign. It made me think it was an open station and that there was an opportunity to join.” The family visited Weymouth over a bank holiday weekend and immediately fell for the town. They moved in August 2018, and Gareth began the process of joining the lifeboat station, finally becoming a volunteer crew member in 2021.

Gareth says that the reality of RNLI volunteering has exceeded his expectations. “You know you’re going to be going off on shouts and doing things on the water,” he says, “but I didn’t take into account the people, the friendships and the bonds that you make with the other crew. That’s what’s made it better than I thought it would be.” His experience as a paramedic is also a valuable asset to the crew, particularly when casualties require medical assistance.

Gareth progressed to become a qualified helm on Weymouth’s Inshore Lifeboat in March this year. He completed specialist training in boat handling and command, alongside examinations covering navigation, local knowledge and RNLI procedures. For Gareth, becoming a helm is another step in a journey that he hopes will continue for many years. He would eventually like to progress further within the RNLI, with becoming a mechanic and, ultimately, a coxswain among his ambitions.

Everyone at Weymouth Lifeboat would like to congratulate Gareth on achieving his helm qualification and wish him every success as he continues his journey with the RNLI.

07/10/2026

Weymouth RNLI’s B917 Jack & Phyl Cleare returned to service yesterday following an extensive refit at the RNLI’s Inshore Lifeboat Centre in Cowes, Isle of Wight.

The Jack & Phyl Cleare departed Weymouth on 26 May for a programme of maintenance and upgrades designed to ensure she remains reliable and ready to respond.

During the refit, the sponsons were replaced, the hull repainted, a new A-frame fitted and the navigation lights upgraded to LED, with new wiring.

Additional safety enhancements included new capsize bottles and an airbag, while the towing and anchor reels and lines were also replaced. The engines were thoroughly tested and serviced, with auxiliary equipment and components replaced to maintain reliability and performance.

The refit forms part of the RNLI’s ongoing commitment to keeping its lifeboat fleet in peak condition, ensuring volunteer crews have the equipment they need to continue saving lives at sea.

Weymouth Lifeboat Operations Manager said:

“Regular maintenance and refits are essential to ensure our lifeboats remain in the best possible condition. The work carried out on Jack & Phyl Cleare will help ensure she continues to provide a reliable service for many years to come, supporting our volunteer crews whenever they are called upon.”

Jack & Phyl Cleare is now back on station and ready for operational service along the Weymouth coastline.

Photo Credit: David Conway

03/10/2026

Shout – Saturday, 3rd October, 2026

At 13:39, following a 999 call, HM Coastguard tasked our Inshore Lifeboat (ILB) to assist two people after their 3m tender sank more than 200m offshore between Castle Cove and Sandsfoot beaches.

The ILB and her volunteer crew launched at 13:51 and were on scene at 13:55. Thankfully, everyone was safely ashore and accounted for.

The ILB was refuelled and ready for service again by 14:32.

If you are heading out on the water this weekend, remember to check your equipment and be sure to have a reliable means of raising the alarm.

02/10/2026

Shout - 2 October 2026

Both Weymouth Lifeboats were tasked this afternoon, following a Pan Pan from a 9m sailing vessel approximately 1.4 nautical miles ENE of Weymouth Harbour.

With two people on board, the casualty vessel was taking on water and had no operational bilge pump or engine.

The Inshore Lifeboat (ILB) arrived on scene at 14:05 and deployed a salvage pump. The All Weather Lifeboat (ALB) arrived one minute later.

By 14:15, the pump was unable to keep pace with the water ingress. The two people on board were removed from their vessel, and the ALB's bilge pump was deployed.

At 14:25, with the situation under control, the casualty vessel was taken by tow to Portland Marina, where it was lifted out on arrival at approximately 15:25.

Both lifeboats were refuelled and returned to service at 16:45.

A well coordinated response by our volunteer Launch Authority and volunteer crew!

01/10/2026

Shout – 1st October 2026

This morning, our Inshore Lifeboat (ILB) was tasked by the Coastguard at 1021 to assist a 10m sailing yacht with two people on board, approximately 3.5 nautical miles east of Weymouth.

The yacht had motored over a pot marker, fouling its propeller and leaving the vessel unable to free itself from the pot marker line and pot.

Our volunteer ILB crew attended, successfully freed the vessel and then towed it safely back to Weymouth Harbour.

The ILB was back available for tasking at 1300.

A great job by the crew, ensuring the safety of those on board and getting the vessel safely back to harbour.

09/09/2026

This is the full statement from Peter Sparkes, our CEO, which you may have seen abbreviated on the news today.

The RNLI is an apolitical organisation; we are completely independent of government, powered by remarkable, kind people and fuelled by the incredible generosity of the public.

For over two hundred years, in all weathers, in peace and war, the RNLI and our amazing volunteers and staff have selflessly dedicated themselves to rescuing people they have never met before, without judgment, fear or favour. When His Majesty’s Coastguard tasks a RNLI lifeboat crew to launch to a vessel or people in distress, whenever and wherever they need us, we will. We will always answer the call, whoever needs our help. It is a legal and moral obligation that our country has, under the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea and SOLAS, Safety of Life at Sea. Courage is the RNLI’s currency; dependable, loyal, service to others and our nations is our hallmark.

Recent events have generated deliberate misinformation and a misunderstanding about the RNLI – our purpose, our tasking, and particularly our lifesaving work in the Channel. Sadly, as a result, some of our volunteers and staff have been the subject of online and, in the worst cases, physical abuse. The RNLI’s people represent the very best in our society, they selflessly give up their time to keep others safe. Yet they and their families are being threatened by those who would hide behind a balaclava or a keyboard. Their action, in contrast, is wholly unacceptable in a civilised society. We will take whatever steps we can, to care for and protect our people and their families.

RNLI lifeboats were tasked by the coastguard and launched 9,058 times in 2025: 109 of those launches were to those in distress in the Channel, representing 1.2 per cent of the RNLI’s total rescue work. Nearly 95 per cent, of those who crossed the English Channel in small boats last year, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, were picked up by the UK Border Force. Our mission, and our tasking is to rescue those women, children and men in danger of drowning. Anyone rescued from a small boat by the RNLI is immediately handed over to the UK’s immigration authorities. Illegal immigration is a political issue; the RNLI exists to save lives at sea.

I have seen ludicrous rumours that we house asylum seekers on RNLI premises, or that there are RNLI missions to move migrants to secret locations. These rumours are completely baseless and untrue.

Illegal migration is a polarising subject that generates strong views, locally and nationally. But please be mindful of misinformation, the impact it has upon others, and be reassured that the RNLI and our crews strive only to prevent people like you and me from drowning at sea. Stand by them, not against them and their families. I am extremely proud of and grateful for their vital lifesaving work that meant 389 lives were saved last year; lives saved to be lives lived.

To those who stand for and by the RNLI, thank you. This charity will continue to save lives at sea all around the UK and Ireland – as we always have and always will.

https://rnli.org/news-and-media/2026/september/08/statement-from-rnli-chief-executive-peter-sparkes

The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel I...

08/09/2026

Shout - Tuesday 8th September 2026, Weymouth RNLI assists yacht off Portland

At 00:28 this morning, Weymouth RNLI’s all weather lifeboat was tasked by HM Coastguard to assist a 33ft yacht with two people on board, one of whom had sustained a broken forearm.

The yacht was near the West Shambles and had raised a Pan-Pan earlier in the evening. The lifeboat located the yacht and guided her safely towards Portland Marina, with two of our volunteer lifeboat crew members transferring across to assist.

By 3am, the yacht was safely secured alongside the visitor pontoon. The injured sailor was taken to the marina office to await an ambulance, while the lifeboat returned to Weymouth and was ready for service again by 03:45.

After several hours at sea, the priority was to get both people safely ashore and the injured sailor into the care of the emergency services.

We wish the casualty a speedy recovery and thanks to our volunteer lifeboat crew who assisted.

06/09/2026

SHOUT - Saturday 5th September 2026

Our Inshore Lifeboat was tasked yesterday, to a 60 year old man who was struggling on an upturned dinghy in Portland Harbour. Members of the public had entered the water to try and assist him before the lifeboat arrived.

Thankfully, on arrival, the casualty was back onboard his dinghy and was being safely towed by the Castle Cove safety boat.

With no further assistance required from the lifeboat, our volunteer crew stood down and returned to station.

A big thank you to the members of the public and Castle Cove safety boat crew who acted quickly to assist.

If you see someone in trouble at sea, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

03/09/2026