RNLI Girvan Lifeboat

30/05/2026

Lifeboat Callout

Friday 29th May

Yesterday evening just after 8pm the crews pagers rang out around the town, arriving at the lifeboat station, the information passed to us by the Launching Authority was reports of an unknown Orange and black object floating out at sea near the Dipple Area, just South of the Factory on the A77 between Girvan and Turnberry.

After quickly changing and heading out the jetty, the lifeboat was made ready to launch and soon our volunteer crew and our all-weather Shannon Class Lifeboat 'Elizabeth and Gertrude Allan' were soon leaving the pier end and making best speed North.

Our crew were guided towards the object by HM Coastguard Girvan CRT about a mile away from scene we spotted the object pictured and identified it as an upturned liferaft, once on scene, we established no one was in the water or in the liferaft or in the close vacinity, and recovered the upturned liferaft to the lifeboat.

Thorough checks were made of the inside of the liferaft, and all safety equipment was unused and still packaged and secured as they should be, with this information passed to MRCC Belfast Coastguard along with details specific to the liferaft, after completing a further search of the area we headed back to Girvan where the liferaft was handed over to our colleagues from Girvan Coastguard and for them and UK Coastguard to continue their enquiries as to who it belongs to and establish how it came to be activated and in the water.

Girvan Lifeboat was then made ready for the next service call.

Girvan Lifeboats press officer said of the incident "This incident is another great example of the collaboration we have working closely with our counterparts in HM Coastguard, and are grateful to the vigilant member of the public who spotted the liferaft and dialled 999 in a timely fashion"
Speed is of the essence if a liferaft is spotted by anyone, as its never immediately known if someone is in peril or the circumstances around it and a quick response can make all the difference in these situations, thankfully on this occasion it was unmanned."

29/05/2026

Girvan Lifeboat launched on service earlier this evening and has returned to station, details will follow tomorrow.

26/05/2026

25/05/2026

The elusive big orange thing is in the sky here in Ayrshire, making it rather hot on this bank holiday Monday, if you're visiting the coast and local beaches today, here's a few things to remember.

● Inflatables are fine in the pool, but not intended for the sea, please dont use inflatable fun boats or toys in the sea, as it only takes seconds for currents and winds to carry you out to sea.

● Keep hydrated in the hot weather and if you're at the coast, make sure you are using suncream and reapplying it after being in the water.

●When it is this warm, please don't bring your dogs to the beach or walk along the coast, and especially don't leave them in the car, even with the windows opened, temperatures inside can double the outside temperature in minutes, best place for them is at home in a cool shaded place with fresh air or a fan and fresh water.

● If you see or believe someone to be in difficulty or in trouble at sea or ashore, dial 999 right away and ask for the COASTGUARD, this ensures emergency services are mobilised right away and will be with you soon.

● And if you unexpectedly find yourself in the water, follow the advise in our video and

25/05/2026

Inflatables are great for the pool, but they’re not safe for the sea.

Even in light winds, they can quickly drift you out to sea and put you in danger.

If you’re heading to the beach this bank holiday, leave inflatables at home and save them for the pool instead.

In an emergency at the coast, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

23/05/2026

Lifeboat Callout

Girvan Lifeboat paged to Yacht in difficulty.

At 13:50hrs today Saturday 23rd May, our volunteers pagers were activated by MRCC Belfast Coastguard.

As our crew quickly descended on the lifeboat station, information received was a Yacht 1m South West of Turnberry lighthouse. After quickly getting changed our volunteers were soon ready to drop the ropes on our Shannon Class all-weather lifeboat 'Elizabeth and Gertrude Allan'

Making best speed North to the last reported position, we soon came across the stricken Yacht, which we located 3.5m NW of Turnberry with the lone person on board, with the wind direction using the sails would be fruitless and would have taken him towards the rocky coastline, the engine had developed a gearbox fault and with no other nearby vessles, the decision was taken that the safest course of action would be to tow it back to Girvan.

On arrival near Girvan, the tow was switched to an alongside tow and a crew member placed aboard to assist the lone sailor and the vessel brought into Girvan Harbour, where it was met by Coastguard Rescue Teams from Girvan and Ballantrae who assisted in tying the Yacht alongside a berth.

The lifeboat returned to berth at 18:00 and was then made ready for the next service call.


Ballantrae Coastguard Rescue Team HM Coastguard Girvan CRT

19/05/2026

Huge thanks once again to the team at The McKinstry Company for their continued support to Girvan Lifeboat and for their generous donation to ensure our crew keep on Saving Lives At Sea.

As part of our 40th anniversary celebrations last year, we were proud to support the RNLI as one of our chosen charities 🧡

Partner Debbie Dunlop, along with Karen Scott and Calvin Dunbar from our Girvan office, were delighted to present John Tait, Lifeboat Crewman and Treasurer of the RNLI Girvan Lifeboat, with a cheque for £1,000.

Girvan Lifeboat Station is a volunteer-led service dedicated to saving lives at sea. In addition to carrying out rescues, the RNLI Girvan team plays an important role in educating the local community about sea safety, helping to prevent accidents before they happen.

Their dedication helps protect mariners, fishermen, and coastal visitors, making our seas and shores safer for everyone. 🧡

13/05/2026

Help support Girvan Lifeboat by taking part in our fun Movie Anagram Quiz, quiz sheets available now from Wright's Home Hardware and The Sweetie Shop for only £1

07/05/2026

If you’re visiting Girvan and looking for some nice gifts or keepsakes, drop into the Tourist information point. Inside we have a display containing various RNLI merchandise. There are also local craft stalls with some excellent items. The tourist information point is located opposite the lifeboat station and is open daily between 12-4.

05/05/2026

Like many similar organisations around the world, we here at Girvan RNLI are no different and join our RNLI colleagues across the UK & Ireland, shocked and saddened at today’s tragic news reaching us here, and any loss to like minded volunteers, SAR Colleagues or frontline emergency services is incredibly difficult to take in.

The loss of volunteer rescuers while responding to a call for help resonates deeply across the entire search and rescue community. Like crews everywhere, they answered without hesitation — driven only by the need to help others.

Incidents like this are a stark reminder of the realities faced when launching to sea. No matter the experience or preparation, conditions can change in an instant, and the risks are never taken lightly.

Today, our thoughts are with the families, friends, and fellow crew members of those who lost their lives from Marine Rescue Ballina, and with the wider Marine Rescue NSW community.

We send our heartfelt condolences during this incredibly difficult time 💔