Mersea and the RNLI We are incredibly lucky to have an RNLI station based at West Mersea. The station houses an Atlantic 75 lifeboat, that carries out rescues mainly to leisure craft and other users in the area.
The Mersea lifeboat is manned by local people on a voluntary basis, and almost all islanders will have some connection with the lifeboat through friends, family or acquaintances.
In July 1963, the lifeboat station was established next to the West Mersea Yacht Club, one of the first ten inshore lifeboat stations in the British Isles. Originally served by a D class lifeboat, this was replaced by a B class, Atlantic 21, lifeboat in 1972. In 1992, a new boathouse and slipway were opened by the Duke of Kent. In 2001, a B class Atlantic 75 lifeboat was stationed at West Mersea.
Mersea Island has an active RNLI Guild, that organises fund raising events in aid of the RNLI. For more details see the Mersea Island Lifeboat Guild pages.