Our 2026/27 Supported Charity
Every year the club nominates a local Charity which supports our interest in our love of boating. At the recent AGM in March 2026 it was agreed that we will support both GAFIRS (The Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service) and the Hamble Life Boat. The club raises monies from events and raffles for these great causes throughout the year.
In 2023/24 we raised £1400.00, in 2024/25 we raised a further £2,075. In 2025/26 we raised £809.00
Throughout our history our members have raised more than £14,000 for local charities and good causes.
GAFIRS
FUNDED BY PUBLIC DONATIONS
GAFIRS is a charity that remains afloat thanks to generous public donations and legacies.
Like many lifeboat services around the UK, they are independent of the RNLI and receive no funding from them.
About Gafirs
GAFIRS is an independent lifeboat and inshore rescue service that was founded in 1969. As a declared facility to the UK Coastguard, GAFIRS provide emergency lifeboat cover to the Eastern Solent and Portsmouth Harbour.
On average GAFIRS respond to 100 incidents per year. These vary from towing stricken vessels away from danger, all the way to providing life saving first aid to critically injured casualties. Time and time again their teams have been awarded national commendations for life saving services to the community. Their members commit hundreds of hours each per year in order to maintain this vital public service
About Hamble Lifeboat
Hamble Lifeboat was formed by Hamble residents in 1968 as the Southampton Water Inshore Rescue Service (Hamble Rescue). This was in response to the number of casualties occurring in Southampton Water and the Rivers Hamble, Itchen and Test, which had increased to 19 deaths in one year. The RNLI, who at the time had boats stationed at Yarmouth and Bembridge, were approached but had no boat suitable for the area. The nature of the area meant something fast, powerful and capable of operating in shallow water was needed.
The first boat, St Andrew, was a 17’ Dory with twin Mercury outboards. This boat, although far from ideal, provided good service and attended over 100 incidents in her first year. Since then, their boats have been continually improved, due to the generosity of the public, and they now operate two Halmatic Pacific 32 RIBs with twin inboard diesel engines driving water jets.
The Hamble Lifeboat moved to its current site at The Quay, Hamble, in 1974, and built a small boathouse and a slipway. With generous support from the public and Local Authorities, in 2017 they replaced our too-small and dilapidated boathouse with one that will support the Service in the years ahead.
