Rye Harbour RNLI lifeboat station’s new lifeboat 'Hello Herbie II' is launched
Rye Harbour RNLI lifeboat station’s new lifeboat 'Hello Herbie II' was officially named on Saturday (23 September) by Mr Nigel Carter, who poured champagne over her bow before the new Atlantic 85 was launched and showed off her paces.
Graeme Richardson, RNLI Area Lifesaving Manager, (ALM) gave a vote of thanks to Mrs Sheila Pigott, who together with her late husband Mr John David Pigott made a considerable donation towards the funding of the new lifeboat; and to Mr Carter, whose family donated the original Hello Herbie, also an Atlantic 85, which was seriously damaged and written off two years ago.
The Reverend Canon David Frost led the Service of Dedication in front of a large audience, including the Lord Lieutenant, Mr Peter Field, and the High Sheriff of East Sussex, Mrs Maureen Chowen.
The Atlantic 85 class RNLI lifeboat was introduced in 2005 and is larger than its predecessor, the Atlantic 75. It is a B class inshore lifeboat, designed to operate in shallow water. There's no wheelhouse, so the crew (usually 3-4) are exposed to the elements at all times. It is one of the fastest lifeboats in the fleet with a top speed of 35 knots and can operate in a force 7 wind in daylight and up to force 6 winds at night.
Jai Gudgion, one of Rye Harbour's volunteer helmsmen, said: ‘Hello Herbie II is perfect for service in the Rye Bay area. She has two onboard computer screens for radar and GPS tracking and a VHF direction finder for helping to pinpoint any casualty. We can now carry four crew and have more survivor space.’
'Rye Harbour lifeboat station would like to thank the many people and organisations who have kindly raised monies to pay for the new lifeboat. Thanks also goes to the station's fund raising team and volunteers.'
The final fund raising event will be an illustrated talk about the Mary Stanford disaster, the worst in the history of the RNLI, where the Rye Harbour crew of 17 all lost their lives.
This event will be held on Friday 20 October at 6pm in Rye Harbour Church of the Holy Spirit. Tickets £20 (including wine and canapes) are available from Claire Stephenson on 01797 222032 or [email protected]
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Key facts about the RNLI: 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 over 230 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and has more than 140 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 137,000 lives.
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A charity registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736). Charity number CHY 2678 in the Republic of Ireland.
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity 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 Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.