Volunteers at NCI Bembridge have been flying the flag for coastal safety as part of Coastwatch’s 30th anniversary celebrations. 

The Island team are taking part in a station-to-station relay spanning more than 2,000 miles.

Starting in Fleetwood, Lancashire, the special anniversary flag is travelling anti-clockwise to each of the charity’s 60 coastal watch stations during the summer. 

It will end its journey in September at the most northerly station on the east coast in Filey, North Yorkshire.   

At each station, the volunteer watchkeepers who help save lives around the coast have been coming up with innovative ways to pass the flag on to the waiting crews at their neighbouring station.  

At Bembridge, volunteers received the flag on July 24 from watchkeepers at NCI Needles who travelled by a vintage Bently.

Mike Batcheler receiving the flag from the manager of the Needles, Charlotte Rayner.Mike Batcheler receiving the flag from the manager of the Needles, Charlotte Rayner. (Image: Contributed.)

Today (July 26), they set off from their station at Bembridge, via light aircraft, on the 65-mile journey to NCI Shoreham. 

Station manager for NCI Bembridge, Mike Batcheler said: “This year is an exciting milestone and it’s great for us all to come together, take part in the 30-year celebration and have some fun in our own community at the same time.   

“We held a flag hoisting ceremony in the company of our colleagues from the Bembridge Coastguard Rescue Team.

“We were delighted that Liz White, chair of the Bembridge Parish Council was able to join us for the occasion, which included tea and cakes after the ceremony.”

A team photo with the flag.A team photo with the flag. (Image: Contributed.)

The next destination was Shoreham on the mainland.

The flag was flown from Bembridge Airport by a light aircraft piloted by Richard Suggitt, the manager of Gosport NCI, accompanied by Garth Atwell, deputy station manager of Bembridge.  

When the flag relay has been completed, the flag will be taken to Trinity House in London where it will be received by NCI’s Royal Patron, HRH The Princess Royal.

It will be installed in Trinity House for the duration of the NCI’s 30th anniversary year.

Trinity House is a charity dedicated to safeguarding shipping and seafarers, providing education, support and welfare to the seafaring community.