Langstone Sailing Club's Pilot Gig Boat at the Hayling Island RNLI Event
© Alan Whitehead (view gallery)
Langstone Sailing Club is just round the corner from the RNLI's Hayling Island station and the club were able to take advantage of the Open Day event by displaying one of their Pilot Gig boats. Pilot Gig boats were originally used to ferry navigation Pilots to & from the ships that they were guiding through difficult waters. Since the boats are no longer needed for that, Pilot Gig racing has become very popular. 
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The COPP Monument on Hayling Island
© Alan Whitehead (view gallery)
In World War 2 a top secret Combined Operations Pilotage Parties unit of volunteers (COPP) based on Hayling Island carried out secret operations in support of the war effort, achieving many extraordinary exploits and winning over 90 medals. Their missions safeguarded the lives of thousands of Allied servicemen on campaigns such as the D-day Landings. 
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Hayling Island Rescue Boat Demonstration
© Alan Whitehead (view gallery)
The larger of the two types of lifeboat used by the RNLI on Hayling Island and also one of the fastest on their fleet, is the B Class Inshore lifeboat, shown here demonstrating its speed and handling as part of the annual open day. Image cannot be loaded
The Twin Outboard Yamahas Push the RNLI's D Class Rescue Boat Easily Through the Waves
© Alan Whitehead (view gallery)
The Hayling Island RNLI's demonstration of their D Class Inshore Lifeboat shows that its 2 Yamaha outboards have all the power necessary to get it to a rescue site as quickly as possible. Image cannot be loaded
Combined Display by the Rescue Teams at Hayling Island
© Alan Whitehead (view gallery)
As no rescue operations were happening on this RNLI Open Day at Hayling Island it was possible to demonstrate their two types of rescue lifeboat together with the Coastguard Helicopter from Portsmouth and this was received very enthusiastically by all who were there to see it. Image cannot be loaded
Rotten Boat Remains in the Kench Saltmarsh on Hayling Island
© Alan Whitehead (view gallery)
Kench was recorded as a Salt Pan in Roman times and is now a Saltmarsh Nature Reserve, seen here with the skeletal remains of a rotting boat in the foreground. Image cannot be loaded
Sinah Peninsular Saltmarsh View on Hayling Island
© Alan Whitehead (view gallery)
The Sinah Peninsular lies at the southwestern corner of Hayling Island and at the tip is a small ferry across Langstone Harbour, to Portsea. On the east side of ferry road is The Kench Saltmarsh. Image cannot be loaded
Every Year the RNLI on Hayling Island Have an Open Day to Celebrate, Advertise and Raise Funds for their Fantastic Rescue Work i
© Alan Whitehead (view gallery)
As most lifeboat crew members are unpaid volunteers, the RNLI on Hayling Island hosts an annual open day, to raise funds and to bring their good work in saving lives at sea to the attention of the public. In the boathouse there are stalls where memorabilia can be bought and there are demonstrations of their equipment and rescue vehicles. Image cannot be loaded
Launching the Hayling Island Lifeboats
© Alan Whitehead (view gallery)
As Hayling Island is very flat and low level, there is no ramp down which to launch the lifeboats, so the RNLI give an Open Day demonstration of how their lifeboats are launched. Image cannot be loaded