On Saturday 17 October 2026 Ilfracombe Lifeboat Station gathered its personnel and local dignitaries for a ceremony to launch the Atlantic 85 Inshore Lifeboat that is replacing the Shannon class we have enjoyed seeing around the harbour for many years. The rationale behind the change is explained on the RNLI’s website. We will continue to have Shannon-class coverage from Appledore and South Wales locations, leaving Ilfracombe to deal with the more typical incident involving small or personal water craft such as kayaks and paddle boards.
The short video shows a selection of photos and videos from the day. After a lot of hard work the crew assembled in the IYC bar to celebrate. 😊