Welcome to Wells RNLI
Wells-next-the-Sea RNLI Lifeboat Station houses an all-weather lifeboat and an inshore lifeboat to save lives and assist with emergencies around Wells and off the North Norfolk coast. Manned by volunteer crews, the boats are ready to launch within minutes, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. This website will tell you more about the station and give you a taste of what we do and the traditions of the lifeboat service.

Recent Services

1 April 2008 22:54	ALB	At 22:44, Yarmouth Coastguard requested the launch of the ALB to search for an overdue 26' yacht Widgeon with two persons onboard, on passage from Cromer to Wells. The Coastguard had been unable to contact the yacht by either VHF or mobile phone. The crew were paged at 22:54 for a low water launch in Holkham Bay. Cromer and Sheringham Lifeboats were also launched and commenced a search pattern towards Wells. Local coastguard units proceeded to vantage points along the coast. At 23:42, Yarmouth Coastguard established contact with the casualty who gave his position as between Blakeney and Wells harbour. Wells ALB proceeded towards the casualty to see if any assistance was required. The Cromer and Sheringham boats were stood down and returned to their respective stations. Wells ALB arrived with the casualty at 00:10 on the 2 April and escorted the yacht to Wells Harbour Entrance. The ALB then remained with the casualty to wait for sufficient water to enter the Harbour. At 02:40 the ALB and the casualty proceeded into Wells Harbour, where one crew member was transferred to the yacht to assist with the passage to Wells Quay. The vessel was moored alongside the quay at 03:25. The ALB was recovered on the East side of the boathouse and was re-housed, refuelled and ready for service at 04:00. Wind: WSW 4. Sea: Slight
1 March 2008 12:47	ILB	At 12:35 Yarmouth Coastguard requested the launch of the ILB to aid a windsurfer with a broken mast and who was in difficulty in the water 3/4 of a mile North of the boathouse. The ILB was paged at 12:40 and launched at 12:47. In the interim period a fellow Windsurfer attempted to tow the casualty to shore but found it too difficult against the ebbing tide and blustery conditions. At 12:49 the ILB arrived on scene and took the casualty and his gear onboard. With the windsurfer safely ashore the ILB returned to station at 12:52. The ILB was re-fuelled and re-housed at 13:20. Wind: W 6. Sea: Slight
19 December 2007 20:38	ALB	At 20:05, Yarmouth Coastguard requested the launch of Wells All-Weather Lifeboat to render assistance to a 15m Lynn Fishing Vessel, Audrey Patricia. The vessel, with 4 persons onboard, was disabled due to a broken gearbox and was in the vicinity of the Burnham Flats, approximately 10 miles NW of Wells Harbour entrance. There were no other vessels in the vicinity able to assist and at 20:38 the ALB left the boathouse for a low water launch in Holkham Bay, arriving on scene at 21:45. The lifeboat commenced a tow at 21:50 and proceeded toward the Lynn Cut in the mouth of the Wash. At 23:20, in the Northern Approaches to Lynn Cut, the tow was transferred to a waiting fishing vessel Sea Swallow to continue the tow to the safety of Kings Lynn port. The ALB arrived in Wells at 00.35 on 20/12/07 and was refuelled, re-housed and ready for service at 01:45. Wind: E 2. Sea: Smooth
16 December 2007 22:00	ALB	At 22:00 Yarmouth Coastguard requested the launch of the All-Weather Lifeboat to render assistance to a 60' Grimsby registered fishing vessel Seiont A, disabled 3 miles off Wells harbour. The casualty vessel had suffered engine failure and was drifting offshore, unable to anchor or recover its fishing gear. With no other vessel in the vicinity to render assistance, the ALB was launched at 22:36 to tow the casualty vessel to a port of refuge. At 23:00 the ALB was alongside the casualty vessel who had in the meantime slipped and buoyed her fishing gear. The draft of the vessel was too deep to safely berth at Wells and so the ALB commenced the tow towards her home port of Grimsby. Arrangements were made to rendezvous with the Humber Lifeboat off the coast of Lincolnshire, NE of Mablethorpe, to continue the tow to Grimsby. At 02:45 on the 17/12/07 the tow was handed to the Humber Lifeboat. At 02:50 the Wells ALB was released by Yarmouth Coastguard and proceeded back to Wells Harbour, arriving at 05:15 in Holkham Bay for a low water recovery. The ALB was re-housed, refuelled and ready for service at 07:00. Wind: E 2. Sea: Smooth
5 December 2007 11:39	ALB	At 08:30 Yarmouth requested the launch of the All-Weather Lifeboat to a disabled fishing vessel in Brancaster bay. The fishing vessel Bell Steerk with 2 persons onboard had fouled her propeller and was unable to manoeuvre. The initial intention was to tow the casualty to Wells harbour at high water in the early afternoon but the vessel would have been unable to take the bottom in Wells Harbour. The casualty was not in immediate danger however the weather forecast was increasing SW winds to gale force 8, necessitating the vessel to reach a port of refuge as soon as possible. Fishing Vessel Seagull was also in attendance and stood by awaiting the arrival of the Lifeboat on the first of the tide. It was decided that the best course of action was for the Bell Steerk to be towed to its home port of Kings Lynn. At 11:39 the ALB left the boathouse for a low water launch in Holkham bay. The casualty was taken in tow at 12:15 and proceeded towards Kings Lynn. At 14:30 the casualty was in the sheltered waters of the Northern Approaches to Lynn Cut and the tow was transferred to Seagull who proceeded to take the Bell Steerk to the safety of Kings Lynn port. The ALB was recovered at 17:00, was refuelled, re-housed and ready for service at 17:30. Wind: WSW 4-5. Sea: Moderate
20 November 2007 21:03	ALB	At 21:01 on the 20 November, Yarmouth Coasguard contacted Wells LOM with regard to a male Fisherman onboard the Kings Lynn fishing vessel Sea Swallow who had received a blow to the head from the fishing gear. The Sea Swallow was engaged in fishing North of the Wells fairway at the time of the incident. Yarmouth Coastguard upgraded the incident and requested the launch of the ALB. The ALB was paged at 21:03 for a low water launch in Holkham Bay. The ALB launched at 21:42 with the Lifeboat Medical Advisor onboard and proceeded toward the casualty vessel, which was about 1.5 miles to seaward. At 21:52 the lifeboat was alongside the casualty and the LMA and 2 crew members were transferred aboard the Sea Swallow. After assessing the situation the LMA advised the casualty was transferred to the ALB. The ALB then proceeded back towards Holkham beach to rendezvous with the Coastguard unit. At 22:18 the ALB transferred the casualty to the Coastguard unit who ferried him across the beach to the waiting ambulance. He received further medical attention before being transferred to King's Lynn QE2 Hospital. At 23:00 the ALB returned to the station and was re-housed, refuelled and ready again for service at 23:30. Wind: E 2-3. Sea: Slight

Wells Lifeboats in print

Wells Lifeboats are featured in two new books.

Wells-next-the-Sea Lifeboats, a history of Wells Lifeboat Station by Nicholas Leach and Paul Russel is the eagerly awaited history of the station and is available from the boathouse (01328 710230) or from good booksellers (ISBN: 0752438751). Marine artist Mick Bensley's paintings in The rescues of the Wells and Blakeney lifeboats bring to life stories of some of the station's more notable services.

We also still have a limited number of copies of the commemorative booklet produced for the Eliza Adams anniversary in October 2005. Please click here for more information and an order form.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is a registered charity, number 209603.
The Wells-next-the-Sea Station Website is maintained by local volunteers not the RNLI. All text and images copyright (C)2005, 2006 RNLI Wells Lifeboat Station or as indicated and may not be downloaded, copied or reproduced elsewhere without prior permission of the station or the relevant copyright holder.