Isle Of Wight RNLI Bicentenary Photography Competition Launches For Charity’s 200th Anniversary

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution on the Isle of Wight is calling on Islanders and tourists to help the charity celebrate 200 years of saving lives at sea by sending photographs of lifeboats or lifeboat stations along the coast this Easter.

The Isle of Wight RNLI Lifeboat Board launched its Bicentenary Photography Competition earlier this year and with categories for people of all ages.

It’s a chance for all the family to get snapping during the holidays next week or dig out their favourite RNLI images to be in with a chance of winning an A3 print and a bespoke tour around a lifeboat station.

Dr Roger Matthews, Bicentenary Co-ordinator for the IOW Lifeboat Board, said:

"The competition is a chance to commemorate our brave crews past and present, celebrate the world-class lifesaving organisation we are today, and 146,000 lives saved, and inspire the crew, supporters and volunteers of tomorrow. 

"We know many of our supporters enjoy taking photographs and hope they will submit their favourite images to be showcased later in the year."

There are plenty of opportunities to capture photographs from now until the deadline on July 31.

The Isle of Wight’s three stations are at Bembridge, Yarmouth and Cowes.

Collectively they have taken part in a total 5,501 launches and saved 1,731 lives since they opened.*

The theme of the competition is Island Seas - Splendour and safety. Its aim is to raise awareness of the RNLI and the beauty and the dangers of the coast around the Isle of Wight.

It is open to amateur photographers and there are three age categories: 12 and Under; Aged 13 to 17; and 18s and over.

Entrants can each submit three digital photos via the competition website.

Judging is in August and September by a panel consisting of professional photographers and the Chair of the Island Lifeboat Board.

Winners will be notified by October 1.

Winner awards will be given for entries in the following categories: Best scenic image and Best Action Image.    

All winning and commended entries will be professionally printed and displayed on public view at the Quay Arts galleries in Newport, Isle of Wight. Dates to be announced.

Terms and conditions can be found online.

The RNLI celebrated its 200^th birthday earlier this month. The charity was founded in a London tavern on 4 March 1824 following an appeal from Sir William Hillary, who lived on the Isle of Man and saw many shipwrecks.