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VIDEO. The Lizard lifeboat launches to assist a 33ft yacht in rough sea

The Lizard lifeboat was launched just after midday on Thursday 5 November 2015 to go to the assistance of a 33ft yacht 19 miles SE of Lizard Point after the lone sailor was overwhelmed by the weather conditions and rough sea.

There were RNLI Lizard lifeboat at The Lizard from 1859 to 1961 and at Cadgwith 1867 to 1963. New station opened 1961.  The Lizard station was extremely exposed and in certain conditions launching lifeboats here and at Cadgwith was a difficult and at times a dangerous operation.  Cost of repairs together with the general upkeep was very expensive also it was considered that this vitally important area for shipping warranted a larger lifeboat than could be operated from either The Lizard or Cadgwith.  In 1958 the Institution decided to construct a new station at Kilcobben Cove which lies half way between the former stations and 1¼ miles east of The Lizard lighthouse.

A station was established at Polpeor by the RNLI in 1859 following the wreck of the ss Czar on 22 January 1859 when part of her crew was rescued by local boatmen.

The Lizard Lifeboat Station can refer to several Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboat stations located on The Lizard in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The first was established at the southernmost point of the peninsula in 1859. Since then successive stations have all been in operation at different locations on The Lizard. The current station is located at Kilcobben Cove 0.5 mi (0.80 km) east of the village of Lizard.

The lifeboat stations have all covered the westerly approaches to the English Channel; with up to 400 ships-a-day, it is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. The lifeboat service has saved many lives over the past 150 years

Video from RNLI

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