Mudeford Lifeboat Station is the base for

Royal National Lifeboat Institution The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is the largest charity that saves lives at sea around the coasts of the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, as well as on some inland waterways. It i ...

(RNLI) search and rescue operations at

Mudeford Mudeford ( ) is a harbourside and beachside parish based on a former fishing village in the east of Christchurch, Dorset, England (historically in Hampshire), fronting water on two sides: Christchurch Harbour and the sands of Avon Beach. The Riv ...

Christchurch Christchurch ( ; mi, Ōtautahi) is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand and the seat of the Canterbury Region. Christchurch lies on the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula on Pegasus Bay. The Avon River / ...

Dorset Dorset ( ; archaically: Dorsetshire , ) is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The ceremonial county comprises the unitary authority areas of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and Dorset (unitary authority), Dors ...

in England. The first

lifeboat Lifeboat may refer to: Rescue vessels * Lifeboat (shipboard), a small craft aboard a ship to allow for emergency escape * Lifeboat (rescue), a boat designed for sea rescues * Airborne lifeboat, an air-dropped boat used to save downed airmen A ...

was stationed on Mudeford Quay 1963 and the present station was opened in 2003. It operates an inshore lifeboat (ILB).

History

During the 1960s the RNLI deployed inflatable ILBs at places around the coast where a quick response to increasing numbers of leisure boats and water users could not be made by larger all-weather lifeboats (ALBs) at stations established to serve commercial shipping. Mudeford Quay, at the entrance to

Christchurch Harbour Christchurch Harbour is a natural harbour in the county of Dorset, on the south coast of England named after the nearby town of Christchurch. Two rivers, the Avon and the Stour, flow into the Harbour at its northwest corner. The harbour is gen ...

, was selected as a suitable place and a small inflatable boat provided. This type of boat could only operate in relatively good conditions and were seldom used in the winter. As their usefulness was proven, some stations received an 'intermediate' ILB which could operate in more severe conditions. As early as 1970, Mudeford was one of the stations used to trial a new lifeboat, (B-500). Later, a boat was stationed at Mudeford in 1981, a new

boathouse A boathouse (or a boat house) is a building especially designed for the storage of boats, normally smaller craft for sports or leisure use. describing the facilities These are typically located on open water, such as on a river. Often the boats ...

being opened for it on 28 June. In 1988 the crew facilities were improved, and Mudeford received a new type of boat, an Atlantic 21 B-Class rigid-hulled inflatable (B-529), 18 years after the first trials. New boathouse and crew facilities were opened on 25 October 2003.

Description

The crew facilities are in a two-storey building. This is rendered and has a tile roof; large first floor windows at both ends give views across the water. Adjoining this and at right angles is the

. This is built of timber with large windows along one side that allow visitors to see the lifeboat inside. The roof is metal with large skylights. The boat doors open onto a concrete platform and shallow slipway.

Area of operation

The can go out in Force 6/7 winds (Force 5/6 at night) and can operate at up to for 2½ hours. Adjacent lifeboats are at

Lymington Lifeboat Station Lymington is a port town on the west bank of the Lymington River on the Solent, in the New Forest district of Hampshire, England. It faces Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, to which there is a car ferry service operated by Wightlink. It is within the ...

to the east, and

Poole Lifeboat Station Poole Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Poole, Dorset in England. The first lifeboat was stationed at Poole Harbour in 1865 and the present station was opened in 1988. Sin ...

to the west. If a larger ALB is needed in the area it will come from Swanage.

Station Honours

The following are awards made at Mudeford * Silver Medal ::Mr Kenneth Derham - 1959 *The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum ::Ian Parker, Helmsman - 1995 ::Stuart Ward, crew member -1995 ::Toby Abbott, crew member - 1995 *Framed RNLI Letter of Commendation ::Mel Varvel, crew member - 2023

Mudeford Lifeboats

Inshore lifeboats

References

External links

RNLI station information
{{Lifeboat stations in Dorset and South Devon Lifeboat stations in Dorset