THE National Coastwatch Institution’s 30th anniversary flag has been making its way around Cornwall on its 2,000-mile tour of 60 stations.
The flag, which began its journey from Fleetwood on June 3, was despatched to St Ives from the St Agnes National Coastwatch Institution’s station last Friday with the final stage of the journey being undertaken on a rib from Hayle after plans to bring it the whole way by boat were disrupted by rough seas.
It was taken from the harbour to St Ives Station, which is this year celebrating its own 25th anniversary as part of the National Coastwatch Institution, where it was flown overnight.
On Saturday morning the mayor of St Ives, Cllr Johnnie Wells, lowered the flag and he was accompanied by a group of St Ives watchkeepers to Smeaton’s Pier where it was taken on local boat Dolly P to the next port of call at Cape Cornwall.
St Ives station manager Trevor Peake and a group of volunteer watchkeepers accompanied the flag, which has a GPS tracking device to enable interested parties to follow its journey.
It was handed over to a kayaker who came out from the Cape Cornwall NCI station and passed it on to Cape Cornwall National Coastwatch Institution manager Jim Hind so it could be flown overnight there before continuing its journey on Sunday.
“Handing over the flag to the kayaker was a challenge, a strong swell meant very skilled handling by Mike the helm of Dolly P was required,” said Helen Simpson, an NCI trustee and former St Ives station manager who made the trip. “Many thanks to the team from Cape Cornwall, especially the kayaker.”
The flag was then being transferred from Cape Cornwall by the Sennen all-weather lifeboat to Gwennap Head, where the Penlee AWLB was taking it to Newlyn for a procession to the NCI station in Penzance.
The final stages of its journey will see it arrive at Filey, Yorkshire - the NCI’s most northerly east coast station - in September before being transferred to its final destination at Trinity House where it is due to be presented to NCI patron The Princess Royal.
Stephen Hand, chair of the NCI, said: “This year’s 30th anniversary is the ideal opportunity to put each station on the map and encourage even more people to join in and support us.
“The relay is about having some fun as well as helping to shine a spotlight on our lifesaving work as a part of the UK’s maritime search and rescue community.
“It’s a privilege to be part of this organisation and to be able to say a huge thank to you to all our supporters and our 2,700 wonderful, highly trained volunteers.”