RNLI Margate lifeboat

01/06/2026

Happy Volunteer Week!

Margate, and the other 237 lifeboat stations are crewed by volunteers, ready to respond to anyone’s need for help, any time, any place.

01/06/2026

🚨CALL OUT🚨
A report of two youths drifting seawards on one paddleboard off Margate has prompted a swift response by Margate RNLI volunteers. For full details and important sea safety advice follow the link in the comments below.

30/05/2026

🏗️NEW BOATHOUSE UPDATE🏗️

Time for an update… the demolition phase is complete and groundwork is now in progress. A UXO survey to make sure there are no remnants lurking from times gone by has also been completed - the all clear was sounded!

The site has now been levelled off in preparation for piling. The yellow pipes sticking out of the ground are where the ground-sourced heat pump 'plumbing' will be located, they will descend to a depth of 126 metres.

29/05/2026

This week, Margate’s volunteer lifeboat crew, as well as crews from other local stations have been training hard together from RNLI Ramsgate Lifeboat’s station.

Using their B Class Atlantic 85, this allowed up to 3 sessions a day over 2 days - focusing on a number of units from navigation, basic seamanship, search and rescue and command units. It also gave our crews an opportunity to work with the other lifeboat crews onboard the same vessel.

Pictured below is Greg and Hollie from Margate, Sam from Littlestone Lifeboat Station and Costal Trainer Ruth Oliver. Ruth is also crew at RNLI Whitstable Lifeboat Station!

With special thanks to Ruth and fellow Costal Trainer/assessor Pete Everard for organising and running the training sessions.

rnli RNLI 🧡

27/05/2026

🚨CALLOUT 🚨

Our D class inshore lifeboat was tasked by HM Coastguard around 8.30pm yesterday (Tuesday 26 May) following reports of a paddle boarder possibly in difficulties off Minnis Bay. Margate Coastguard Rescue Team also responded.

Soon after launching the situation at Minnis Bay was resolved and the lifeboat was diverted following a report from a member of the public of what appeared to be an unmanned jet ski around a mile off Margate. After the lifeboat checked out a local fishing boat and a yacht in the area, the first informant confirmed that the fishing vessel was the craft involved. All rescue units were stood down.

No false alarm is ever a wasted alert and we thank the member of the public for calling it in. If you see anything on the coast or at sea that doesn’t look quite right – dial 999 and ask for Coastguard.

26/05/2026

Exceptional weather conditions coinciding with a bank holiday weekend and half term school holidays have provided a perfect magnet attracting large numbers of visitors to Thanet’s beaches, and a busy period for the area’s RNLI teams.

It was the first weekend back on duty for Thanet’s RNLI lifeguards and by mid-afternoon on Sunday (24 May) they were stretched to the limit patrolling two of the area’s most popular beaches, Margate Main Sands and Joss Bay. Full details of our activities can be seen below

Exceptional weather conditions coinciding with a bank holiday weekend and half term school holidays have provided a perfect magnet attracting large numbers of visitors to Thanet’s beaches, and a busy period for the area’s RNLI teams

22/05/2026

Congratulations to volunteer lifeboat crewmember Ollie Patrick (centre of group picture below) who this week successfully completed the 40 hour, 4.5 day residential Boat Handling Course at the RNLI College at Poole.
Ollie attended the D class Boat Handling Course last year so as part of the crew’s journey up their development ladder, eventually hopefully to the role of Helm, the Boat Handling Course for the larger B class lifeboat has now been completed by Ollie. Training evolutions on the course include: close quarters manoeuvres; mooring and berthing; MOB; towing; veering; single engine manoeuvres; emergency steering; slow speed transfers; rough weather handling and helicopter formations.
As well as gaining the all-important RNLI course certificate, successful completion and assessment also includes the RYA Powerboat Level 2 qualification… but he already had that from last year!
Well done Ollie, onwards and upwards.

20/05/2026

This week sees the launch of RNLI’s annual Float to Live water safety campaign. Follow this link https://rnli.org/safety/float to learn about the simple advice and stories of those whose own lives were saved by Float to Live.
With hot weather forecast for the coming bank holiday weekend and for anyone heading for the beach please note that RNLI lifeguards start their summer season in Thanet this Saturday and will be on duty 10am to 6pm from the following locations and dates:
Broadstairs (Viking Bay), Joss Bay, Botany Bay and Margate Main Beach daily from Saturday 23 May.
Ramsgate, Westbrook Bay, Stone Bay, Minnis Bay: Weekends and bank holidays only Saturday 23 May to Sunday 12 July then daily from Saturday18 July.
St Mildred’s Bay and West Bay daily from Saturday18 July.

Go to https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeguarded-beaches for detailed information about all the RNLI lifeguarded beaches and remember - No Flags = No Lifeguards

Enjoy yourselves and stay safe, chat to the lifeguards for local knowledge and safety advice, it could save your life, and remember in a coastal emergency dial 999 and ask for Coastguard.

17/05/2026

When the weather is kind to us the B class Atlantic 85 lifeboat is recovered by backing into the empty carriage, the ‘Bendy’ tractor then hauling the rig ashore.

During bad weather, this method carries risks so we use a ‘net recovery’ procedure where the boat is driven bow first into the carriage (at a higher speed with greater heading control) where a net restricts the boat’s forward movement. Once back at the station the lifeboat is jacked up clear of the carriage which is pulled clear. The boat is then turned 180’ and the carriage relocated under the boat which is now facing the right way for the next launch!

This procedure is seldom used so it important that the boat and shore crews remain proficient with the process. Today was therefore an ideal day (in calm conditions) to carry out a couple of net recoveries with two different crews. The exercise also involved boathandling, mooring and berthing skills.

It is important that our volunteer crew remain proficient remembering today’s exercise could be carried out for real in the dark, in the middle of winter and in foul weather conditions.

13/05/2026

Hello - I am Julia, Shore Crew at RNLI Margate - This May, I’m completing (at a minimum) a mile-a-day challenge to help RNLI crews save lives at sea, also contributing towards my personal weight loss journey where I am just about to hit a three stone loss milestone!!

Over recent years raising £1,736 in events plus a one-off £5,000 donation through my workplace specifically to go towards the new RNLI Margate Lifeboat Station which is currently ongoing - Woohoo!!

Thank You to all who have donated!!

I’m taking on the Mayday Mile to support RNLI lifesavers during their busiest time of year. Will you help me fundraise and make a lifesaving difference?