Sarah Townsend Porritt | National Historic Ships

Registration number 3730

Status Registered

paula.palmer

Previous names

1951 - 1951 Sarah Townsend Porritt

Details

Function Service Vessel

Subfunction Rescue

Location Hayle

Vessel type Lifeboat - Watson Class

Current use Ongoing conservation

Available to hire No

Available for excursions No

Info required Yes

Web address http://www.saving-our-sarah.org

Construction

Builder Sussex Yacht Works Ltd, Shoreham-by-Sea

Built in 1951

Hull material Wood

Number of decks 1

Number of masts 1

Propulsion Motor

Number of engines 2

Primary engine type Twin diesel

Boilermaker None

Dimensions

Length: Overall

49.50 feet (15.09m)

Tonnage: Gross

23.00

History

Ex-RNLB SARAH TOWNSEND PORRITT - ON 886. She was built in 1951 and carried out 95 launches, saving 43 lives.

She served at Lytham St Annes from 1951 until 1977, where she was launched 79 launches saving 32 lives.

She also served at the following stations in the relief fleet from 1977, where there were 16 launches and 8 lives saved;

Howth - 2 launches, with 1 life saved.

Workington - 1 Launch, with 0 lives saved

Lytham St Annes - 3 launches, with 0 lives saved Tenby - 4 launches, with 3 lives saved

Fleetwood - 6 launches, with 4 lives saved

In addition to the number of lives saved, 2 of her coxswain were awarded the Bronze medals for Gallantry.

She was sold out of service in 1982. Her current owner bought her in 2021 and is restoring her to seaworthy condition so she can be used for education about the RNLI and water safety, runs afloat for people struggling with mental health and also to keep wooden boat building skills alive, possibly by allowing her to be worked on by apprentices. A crowdfunder has been launched to help restore the vessel.