RNLI Margate lifeboat

06/06/2026

Greg Nocentini one of our crewmembers has reached the next stage of his lifeboating journey after being passed out as a D class helm by Sophie Braund, RNLI Coastal Trainer/Assessor.

The assessment, carried out afloat off Margate followed courses and training both locally and at the RNLI College at Poole including mastering skills in leadership, incident handling, boat handling and navigation.

Just 24 hours later he helmed his first service call, a gentle start - a short run afloat following a false alarm with good intent!

Greg is also the station's Social Media Officer handling that side of our engagement with the public although of course he didn't write this one up😃 Well done Greg.

Photo: Greg and Sophie following the assessment (RNLI Margate)

03/06/2026

With both RNLI Ramsgate Lifeboat and ourselves playing a pivotal role in recovering pilots, mariners and more during World War 2, the Dunkirk Evacuations were especially poignant.

Both Margate and Ramsgate lifeboats were the only RNLI lifeboats that went over to Dunkirk to save our troops from the advancing German army, crewed wholly by its own RNLI Volunteers.

Overall, approx 340,000 soldiers were rescued during the Dunkirk evacuations.

Read more on the RNLI’s post here!

01/06/2026

Happy Volunteer Week!

Margate, and the other 237 lifeboat stations are crewed by volunteers, ready to respond to anyone’s need for help, any time, any place.

01/06/2026

🚨CALL OUT🚨
A report of two youths drifting seawards on one paddleboard off Margate has prompted a swift response by Margate RNLI volunteers. For full details and important sea safety advice follow the link in the comments below.

30/05/2026

🏗️NEW BOATHOUSE UPDATE🏗️

Time for an update… the demolition phase is complete and groundwork is now in progress. A UXO survey to make sure there are no remnants lurking from times gone by has also been completed - the all clear was sounded!

The site has now been levelled off in preparation for piling. The yellow pipes sticking out of the ground are where the ground-sourced heat pump 'plumbing' will be located, they will descend to a depth of 126 metres.

29/05/2026

This week, Margate’s volunteer lifeboat crew, as well as crews from other local stations have been training hard together from RNLI Ramsgate Lifeboat’s station.

Using their B Class Atlantic 85, this allowed up to 3 sessions a day over 2 days - focusing on a number of units from navigation, basic seamanship, search and rescue and command units. It also gave our crews an opportunity to work with the other lifeboat crews onboard the same vessel.

Pictured below is Greg and Hollie from Margate, Sam from Littlestone Lifeboat Station and Costal Trainer Ruth Oliver. Ruth is also crew at RNLI Whitstable Lifeboat Station!

With special thanks to Ruth and fellow Costal Trainer/assessor Pete Everard for organising and running the training sessions.

rnli RNLI 🧡

27/05/2026

🚨CALLOUT 🚨

Our D class inshore lifeboat was tasked by HM Coastguard around 8.30pm yesterday (Tuesday 26 May) following reports of a paddle boarder possibly in difficulties off Minnis Bay. Margate Coastguard Rescue Team also responded.

Soon after launching the situation at Minnis Bay was resolved and the lifeboat was diverted following a report from a member of the public of what appeared to be an unmanned jet ski around a mile off Margate. After the lifeboat checked out a local fishing boat and a yacht in the area, the first informant confirmed that the fishing vessel was the craft involved. All rescue units were stood down.

No false alarm is ever a wasted alert and we thank the member of the public for calling it in. If you see anything on the coast or at sea that doesn’t look quite right – dial 999 and ask for Coastguard.

26/05/2026

Exceptional weather conditions coinciding with a bank holiday weekend and half term school holidays have provided a perfect magnet attracting large numbers of visitors to Thanet’s beaches, and a busy period for the area’s RNLI teams.

It was the first weekend back on duty for Thanet’s RNLI lifeguards and by mid-afternoon on Sunday (24 May) they were stretched to the limit patrolling two of the area’s most popular beaches, Margate Main Sands and Joss Bay. Full details of our activities can be seen below

Exceptional weather conditions coinciding with a bank holiday weekend and half term school holidays have provided a perfect magnet attracting large numbers of visitors to Thanet’s beaches, and a busy period for the area’s RNLI teams

22/05/2026

Congratulations to volunteer lifeboat crewmember Ollie Patrick (centre of group picture below) who this week successfully completed the 40 hour, 4.5 day residential Boat Handling Course at the RNLI College at Poole.
Ollie attended the D class Boat Handling Course last year so as part of the crew’s journey up their development ladder, eventually hopefully to the role of Helm, the Boat Handling Course for the larger B class lifeboat has now been completed by Ollie. Training evolutions on the course include: close quarters manoeuvres; mooring and berthing; MOB; towing; veering; single engine manoeuvres; emergency steering; slow speed transfers; rough weather handling and helicopter formations.
As well as gaining the all-important RNLI course certificate, successful completion and assessment also includes the RYA Powerboat Level 2 qualification… but he already had that from last year!
Well done Ollie, onwards and upwards.

20/05/2026

This week sees the launch of RNLI’s annual Float to Live water safety campaign. Follow this link https://rnli.org/safety/float to learn about the simple advice and stories of those whose own lives were saved by Float to Live.
With hot weather forecast for the coming bank holiday weekend and for anyone heading for the beach please note that RNLI lifeguards start their summer season in Thanet this Saturday and will be on duty 10am to 6pm from the following locations and dates:
Broadstairs (Viking Bay), Joss Bay, Botany Bay and Margate Main Beach daily from Saturday 23 May.
Ramsgate, Westbrook Bay, Stone Bay, Minnis Bay: Weekends and bank holidays only Saturday 23 May to Sunday 12 July then daily from Saturday18 July.
St Mildred’s Bay and West Bay daily from Saturday18 July.

Go to https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeguarded-beaches for detailed information about all the RNLI lifeguarded beaches and remember - No Flags = No Lifeguards

Enjoy yourselves and stay safe, chat to the lifeguards for local knowledge and safety advice, it could save your life, and remember in a coastal emergency dial 999 and ask for Coastguard.