RNLITorbay

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RNLITorbay RNLI Torbay is one of the UK's busiest lifeboat stations and our dedicated volunteers head out regularly in challenging conditions to save lives at sea.

Our mission is to save lives at sea, our goal is to stop drowning. We do this through water safety education, operating search and rescue lifeboats and operating beach lifeguards.

Storm warning from RNLI…RNLI urges public to stay safe in the South West during Storm Austen. This storm is anticipated ...
22/10/2026

Storm warning from RNLI…

RNLI urges public to stay safe in the South West during Storm Austen. This storm is anticipated to hit us here in the Bay from Thursday night and to last into and through Friday.

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.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning with winds forecast to reach more than 70mph in coastal locations along the south coast of England.

The expected strong winds will also bring heavy rain posing a safety risk to those visiting the coast. Lifesaving charity the RNLI is encouraging people to exercise extreme caution if visiting the shoreline, especially along exposed cliffs and seafronts.

Some RNLI lifeguarded beaches across the South West remain operational during half term, but conditions may be extremely challenging. RNLI Lifeguards may decide to fly red flags where conditions are considered too dangerous for entering the water. Beaches without lifeguard cover will also be particularly hazardous during the storm, and visitors are urged to stay well back from the water's edge.

RNLI Water Safety Manager, Ross Macleod said: ‘Storm Austen is set to bring potentially dangerous conditions so we’re asking the public to stay vigilant and not take unnecessary risks. If you plan to visit the coast or a waterside location, we urge you stay a safe distance from the water as conditions could knock you off your feet or wash you into the sea.

'If you find yourself in trouble in the water, remember to Float to Live: Lie back in the water with your head so far back that your ears are wet, extend your arms and legs and try to relax as best as you can until you get control of your breathing before then calling for help or swimming to safety.

‘If you see someone else in danger – do not enter the water yourself as you could also end up in serious difficulty. Instead, remember phone, float, throw – phone 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard; tell the struggling person to float; throw them something buoyant, like a life ring.’

If you find yourself in trouble in the water, the RNLI’s safety advice is float to live:
 Tilt your head back with your ears submerged
 Relax and try to breathe normally
 Move your hands and legs to help you stay afloat
 It’s OK if your legs sink, we all float differently
 Once your breathing is under control, call for help or swim to safety.

If you see someone else in trouble at the coast, remember Phone, Float Throw:
 Phone 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard to get help.
 Tell the struggling person to Float to Live.
 Throw them something that floats, such as a life ring.

It has been a relatively quiet October for shouts for Torbay RNLI… so far.Just two call-outs to support police, rescue a...
22/10/2026

It has been a relatively quiet October for shouts for Torbay RNLI… so far.

Just two call-outs to support police, rescue and ambulance services due to reported people in the water, both off Paignton.

The first at 10:40pm on Tuesday 6th October and the second last night (Wednesday 21st) at 10:34pm. In both cases, we launched our In Shore Lifeboat (ILB), which made great time to the respective scenes, where in both cases, we were fortunately not required thanks to the good work of the rescue services in assisting the casualties to shore and awaiting ambulances.

In both cases (and it is worth mentioning) - and as usual - there was a very healthy turn-up by our volunteers to crew-assembly at the station – from which three members are selected (when launching just the ILB), based on matching the briefed circumstances with respective crew-member skills and time.

Looking ahead... please be aware of ‘Storm Austen’, which is anticipated to reach the Bay from late Thursday (tonight) and to last into Friday.

RNLI Water Safety Manager, Ross Macleod said: ‘Storm Austen is set to bring potentially dangerous conditions so we’re asking the public to stay vigilant and not take unnecessary risks. If you plan to visit the coast or a waterside location, we urge you stay a safe distance from the water as conditions could knock you off your feet or wash you into the sea.”

(Images taken form earlier night-time ILB shouts)

Here's our round-up for September.The month began with a shout to a stranded vessel out in Start Bay alongside our colle...
15/10/2026

Here's our round-up for September.

The month began with a shout to a stranded vessel out in Start Bay alongside our colleagues from Salcombe RNLI.

And it came to a close with our Annual Service of Dedication taking place on 27 September (www.facebook.com/share/v/1CT9qZzxZM/) as the volunteer crew responded to their fourth shout in a 24-hour period (www.facebook.com/share/v/1Bsf1pU9Gi/).

RNLI

It’s been a busy 160th anniversary year for us. Approaching 100 shouts so far this year, we’ve also been onboarding six ...
12/10/2026

It’s been a busy 160th anniversary year for us. Approaching 100 shouts so far this year, we’ve also been onboarding six new volunteer lifeboat crew. In August our spectacular StormFest 160 event took place and just last week our crew were featured on the BBC’s Saving Lives At Sea programme.

As the year draws to a close, it’s time to look ahead to the future of the Torbay Lifeboat Station. And we’ve got a busy few years ahead. 2027 will see the arrival of our new D class Inshore Lifeboat. The D class responds to around 60% of the station’s shouts and is expected to arrive in the spring in time for the busy summer season. Funding for the lifeboat came from generous donations to the crew’s Kilimanjaro Challenge 2023 – where six challenges from May 2022 to February 2023 saw crew members skydive, endurance swim, cycle, row and drive at locations around the UK, before finally hiking to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro.

2029 will then see a new class of All-Weather Lifeboat (ALB) arrive at the station to replace our Severn class ALB. Now 25 years old, our existing ALB responds to 40 shouts a year on average. The arrival of a Shannon class ALB in 2029 means Torbay will be served by the most modern lifeboat in the RNLI’s fleet. With a similar speed and range to the Severn, she’s equipped with the very latest lifesaving technology, including enhanced navigation tools to assist with navigation both offshore and within confined areas. Propelled by water jets rather than traditional propellers, the Shannon is extremely manoeuvrable and agile, operating in both deep and shallower water with ease.

The changes are part of the RNLI's 2040 Lifeboat Fleet Strategy that has considered rescue and operational data as well as specialist insight to decide plans for our fleet's future. Operational data shows that 98% of incidents we respond to are within 10 nautical miles of the shore, as we see more people – particularly in-and-around our bay - enjoying the coast for recreational purposes. The investments in both our inshore and all-weather lifeboats will ensure our capabilities match the ever-evolving nature of the work we do to save lives at sea.

Richard Fowler, coxswain at Torbay RNLI said, "We'll all be sad to see Alec and Christina D***s go. But we're looking forward to the next step in our station's future. Having the most modern inshore and all-weather lifeboats along with the latest intake of volunteer crew will all ensure we’re here, ready to answer the call to saves lives at sea for many years to come. Thank you to everyone who has supported our station over the years. We're proud of our past, excited for the future, and ready for the next chapter of lifesaving.”

RNLI NCI Torbay NCI Froward Point

If you didn’t get a chance to watch the Torbay crew on Saving Lives At Sea on Wednesday night, the episode’s now availab...
08/10/2026

If you didn’t get a chance to watch the Torbay crew on Saving Lives At Sea on Wednesday night, the episode’s now available on BBC iPlayer here: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0032ljt/saving-lives-at-sea-series-11-8-paddleboard-999. The Torbay shout is about 25 minutes in.

Thanks to our volunteer crew members James, Nigel, Sam and Simon for being part of the filming. And thanks too to Adam, Ash and Ray who were also part of the crew who brought the trimaran and her two crew safely back to port.

RNLI

This week’s new episode of Saving Lives At Sea shows the Torbay All-Weather lifeboat (ALB) and her volunteer crew coming...
04/10/2026

This week’s new episode of Saving Lives At Sea shows the Torbay All-Weather lifeboat (ALB) and her volunteer crew coming to the rescue of a trimaran in difficulties off Berry Head, south Devon.

Tune in on Wednesday 7 October at 8pm on BBC Two to hear the crew members tell the story of how they launched their small Y-boat inflatable from the ALB in Force 8 wind conditions to put a crew member aboard the vessel to set-up a tow back to port. And all while practising a little conversational French...

If you can't make it on Wednesday evening, the episode will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer after broadcast.

RNLI

Saturday 3 October 2026 marks the 160th anniversary of the first lifeboat entering service at the newly-established Torb...
03/10/2026

Saturday 3 October 2026 marks the 160th anniversary of the first lifeboat entering service at the newly-established Torbay Lifeboat Station.

The tragic events of the Great Storm of 10 January 1866 in which over 70 lives were lost in Tor Bay, gave renewed focus to the need for a permanently stationed lifeboat in Torbay. Led by a fundraising group formed in Exeter, funds were quickly raised and contracts agreed to build a lifeboat station at Bolton Cross in Brixham.

The City of Exeter, named in honour of the people of Exeter who raised a large portion of the initial funds, arrived in Exeter in late September and was paraded through the streets of Exeter on 1 October.

Arriving in Brixham on 2 October, the lifeboat formally entered service on 3 October 1866. Over the course of her 19-year service, The City of Exeter and her 12 volunteer crew launched five times, being directly responsible for saving the life of one person.

160 years later, the lifeboat station, relocated to the Brixham Breakwater in 1872, is now home to two lifeboats: A Severn class All-Weather lifeboat and a D class Inshore lifeboat, crewed by 35 volunteer crew members and supported by many more shore-based volunteers. So far in 2026, they’ve responded to 97 shouts and come to the aid of 78 people.

RNLI

30/09/2026

Torbay Lifeboats’ Annual Service of Dedication took place on Sunday evening, 27 September in Brixham.

As Torbay RNLI’s Inshore Lifeboat (ILB) was away attending the fourth shout of the past 24-hour period, the station’s Severn class All-Weather Lifeboat (ALB), Alec and Christina D***s, moored up at Brixham’s Old Fish Quay to join the service.

Led by Helen Lovell-Smith of the Fishermen's Mission Devon, and attended by the Civic Mayor of Torbay, the service reflected on the selfless commitment of volunteer crews past-and-present and gave thanks for their work in saving lives at sea. The service took place almost 160 years to the day that the first lifeboat, The City of Exeter, was stationed in Torbay on 3 October 1866 and also heard readings from coxswain Richard Fowler and John Jeffrey, President of the Torbay Lifeboat Fundraisers.

To the accompaniment of the Brixham Town Band, three hymns were sung by the assembled crowd along with performances of sea shanties by Harbour Buoys - Brixham. A collection coordinated by Brixham Sea Rangers in aid of Torbay Lifeboats rounded off the evening as daylight faded around the harbourside.

Thank you to all those who were able to attend and for supporting the work of Torbay Lifeboats.

Launching at 1:30pm on Sunday 20 September, Torbay’s All-Weather Lifeboat (ALB) and her seven volunteer crew worked alon...
21/09/2026

Launching at 1:30pm on Sunday 20 September, Torbay’s All-Weather Lifeboat (ALB) and her seven volunteer crew worked alongside a Coastguard helicopter at an incident 25 miles due east of Berry Head, Brixham.

Shortly before the arrival of the ALB on scene, the helicopter winched a medic onto a diving vessel to attend a member of a diving party. As the final diver surfaced from their dive, the ALB reunited the diver with the other members of the diving party gathered on a nearby fishing vessel. Following an airlift of the casualty by the helicopter, the ALB and her crew brought the divers back to their diving vessel, from where they journeyed back to port in Weymouth.

The ALB then returned to Brixham where her crew readied her for service again by 4:30pm. Further enquiries regarding the incident should be directed to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

RNLI

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Berry Head Road
Brixham
TQ59AF

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