Cowes RNLI's First All-Female Crew Called Into Action During Cowes Week

(c) RNLI

An all-female crew from Cowes RNLI responded to a real-life emergency during a planned training exercise as part of the station's annual Ladies Launch.

The event, held on Wednesday morning, saw women take on every operational role, from Launch Authority and shore crew to lifeboat crew.

Volunteers from Bembridge RNLI also joined the exercise.

The crew launched as planned at 09:00, but while training in the Solent they were tasked by HM Coastguard to assist a sailor who had suffered a head injury after being struck by a boat's boom.

The incident happened around a mile north of the moored naval guard ship.

After helping to resolve the situation, the lifeboat returned to Cowes at around 11:30 before being washed down and made ready for its next callout.

The annual event brought together 28 women from across the RNLI, including operational crews, water safety volunteers, fundraisers and visits teams from Cowes, Bembridge and Yarmouth.

During the morning, long-serving volunteer Anne Simkin was recognised for a decade of service to Cowes RNLI.

Anne joined the station in 2016, initially serving as shore crew before progressing to boat crew.

After a back injury ended her operational role afloat, she became a Launch Authority in 2019 and is due to retire from the station next month.

Jennifer Hastings, who has been part of Cowes RNLI's visits team since 2014, was also recognised ahead of her retirement later this year.

Reflecting on the day, Anne Simkin said she was proud to have been part of Cowes RNLI's efforts to create a more inclusive and diverse volunteer team over the past decade and hopes to see many more all-female launches in the future.