Porthcawl RNLI Lifeboat

Porthcawl RNLI Lifeboat One of the busiest RNLI stations in Wales, operating an Atlantic 85 and D Class lifeboat.

Celebrating 60 years of inshore lifeboats based at Porthcawl and the re-establishment of an RNLI lifeboat station.
1965 - 2025 Porthcawl RNLI is one of the busiest lifeboat stations in Wales operating two of the charity's inshore lifeboats; Atlantic 85 Rose of the Shires and D Class Hugo Missen. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), a charity registered in England and Wales (209603), Scotland (SC037736), the Republic of Ireland (20003326), the Bailiwick of Jersey (14), the Isle of Man, the Bailiwick of Guernsey and Alderney

Thank you for your support ❤️🛟We’ve been incredibly grateful for all the kind messages and support for the RNLI this wee...
11/09/2026

Thank you for your support ❤️🛟

We’ve been incredibly grateful for all the kind messages and support for the RNLI this week. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to get in touch or simply stand behind our lifesaving work.

So far this year our volunteer crew has launched 95 times - the images being from some of those rescues.

We at Porthcawl RNLI are all local volunteers, who give our time to help keep our community and everyone who comes to enjoy our beautiful coastline safe.

In 2025 our volunteer crew launched our inshore lifeboats to 113 incidents, aided 146 people and saved 15 lives.

When the call comes, it doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from. If you’re in trouble and need us, we’ll be there.

Our volunteer crew is ready 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, serving and protecting the community we are proud to call home.

We are Porthcawl RNLI.
We save lives at sea 💙

If you’d like to show your support with a donation to help us save lives at sea: https://fundraise.rnli.org/fundraisers/Porthcawl

10/09/2026

The RNLI is a charity that exists to save lives at sea. But recent events have generated deliberate misinformation and a misunderstanding about our purpose and our lifesaving work in the Channel.

As a result, some of our volunteers and staff have been the subject of online and, in some cases, physical abuse. This is unacceptable.

The RNLI’s people represent the very best of society. For over two hundred years they have dedicated themselves to rescuing people they’ve never met before, without judgment, fear or favour.

We are tasked by HM Coastguard to help those in distress, and we'll do so whenever, wherever and whoever they are.

We launched 9,058 times in 2025. Only 109 of those launches were to those in distress in the Channel – 1.2% of our total rescue work. Anyone rescued from a small boat by the RNLI is then taken into the care of the relevant UK authorities.

To those who stand with the RNLI, thank you. For more than two hundred years, we've saved lives at sea around the UK and Ireland, and that commitment remains unchanged.

The broadcast of tonight's new episode of Saving Lives at Sea where we feature has been postponed due to a late change i...
08/09/2026

The broadcast of tonight's new episode of Saving Lives at Sea where we feature has been postponed due to a late change in the episode order.

We remain proud to support the series, which helps highlight the dedication of our volunteer lifesavers and the important safety messages that can help people stay safe around the coast.

We look forward to sharing an updated broadcast date in due course and would like to thank viewers for their understanding and continued support of the RNLI and our lifesaving work.

07/09/2026

📺 Watch Porthcawl RNLI Lifeboat's volunteer crew in the 100th episode of Saving Lives At Sea

Tuesday at 8pm | BBC Two & BBC iPlayer

Porthcawl RNLI’s volunteer crew were paged by HM Coastguard at 3.02pm yesterday (Friday 28 August) following a 999 call ...
29/08/2026

Porthcawl RNLI’s volunteer crew were paged by HM Coastguard at 3.02pm yesterday (Friday 28 August) following a 999 call from a lone sailor on a yacht in difficulty. The yacht had run aground on a sand bank and swamped its engine. The Mumbles Lifeboat RNLI all-weather lifeboat was also requested.

The lifeboat passaged out in fairly challenging conditions and as they got closer to Scarweather sand bank, the volunteer crew were unable to immediately spot the casualty and due to the conditions were struggling to locate them using radar. With the casualty unable to use their VHF radio at the time, the sailor was requested to fire a red flare, after which the lifeboat crew spotted the vessel.

On scene, the crew assessed the situation and observed that the yacht had taken on a significant amount of water. A decision was made that the safest course of action was to put a crew member onboard the yacht to further assess the situation. It was immediately apparent that the crew needed to get the sailor off as quickly as possible as it would be impossible to stem the flow of water.

The casualty was safely transferred on to the lifeboat before the vessel sank. Due to the challenging sea conditions at the time, the casualty was then transferred to The Mumbles all-weather lifeboat and taken safely ashore at Swansea.

Speaking following the call out, Andrew Walmsley, Porthcawl RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager said: ‘The crew did a great job in difficult conditions. Time was of the essence and to locate the sailor quickly with fairly limited information and evacuate them from the sinking yacht resulted in a life saved and we want to wish the casualty well.

'The Bristol Channel has the second largest tidal range in the world and can present people with challenging conditions where it can be easy to get caught out. We would like to commend the casualty for being prepared and having a means to call for help. Should you get into difficulty or see someone else in trouble, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.’

To help power Porthcawl RNLI volunteers to our next rescue: https://fundraise.rnli.org/fundraisers/Porthcawl

Full news release with downloadable image: https://rnli.org/news-and-media/2026/august/29/porthcawl-and-the-mumbles-rnli-rescue-lone-sailor-from-sinking-yacht

Our volunteer crew were paged by HM Coastguard at 7.23pm yesterday evening (Sunday 23 August) following a 999 call repor...
24/08/2026

Our volunteer crew were paged by HM Coastguard at 7.23pm yesterday evening (Sunday 23 August) following a 999 call reporting a casualty with a suspected broken pelvis following a fall onto rocks in a remote part of the Vale of Glamorgan coastline near Monknash.

Both the charity's inshore lifeboats, Atlantic 85 'Rose of the Shires' and D Class 'Hugo Missen' were launched on service and made best speed to the location. Our colleagues from Llantwit Major Coastguard and Barry Coastguard were also tasked to the incident.

When our volunteer crew arrived on scene they assessed the casualty and provided casualty care along with Coastguard colleagues. The casualty was stabilised and carried out by stretcher to the Atlantic 85 lifeboat and then medevaced back to Porthcawl. Once back at Porthcawl lifeboat station the casualty was transferred to hospital for further assessment and treatment. We wish the casualty a speedy and full recovery.

To help power Porthcawl RNLI volunteers to our next rescue: https://fundraise.rnli.org/fundraisers/Porthcawl

In a coastal emergency dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.

20/08/2026

Throw back footage from Saving Lives At Sea when our volunteer crew launched to a kayaker in difficulty.

Tonight 8pm on BBC Two and BBC iPlayerDon't miss Porthcawl RNLI's volunteer crew featured in the brand new series of Sav...
18/08/2026

Tonight 8pm on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer

Don't miss Porthcawl RNLI's volunteer crew featured in the brand new series of Saving Lives At Sea

Image: Porthcawl RNLI (Helmet Cam Still)

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Porthcawl Lifeboat Station, The Esplanade
Porthcawl
CF363YR

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