Flag relay between coastal watch stations raises funds and awareness of safety at sea

The National Coastwatch Institution is flying the flag for coastal safety with the start of a 2000 mile station-to-station relay as part of the charity’s 30^th anniversary celebrations.

The relay set off from the National Coastwatch Institution Fleetwood station in Lancashire during Volunteers’ Week.  The specially-commissioned anniversary flag will travel anti-clockwise to each of the charity’s 60 coastal watch stations during the summer.  It is due to end its journey by September at the most northerly station on the east coast in Filey, North Yorkshire.

At each station, the volunteer watchkeepers who help save lives around the coast have been coming up with innovative ways to pass the flag on to the waiting crews at their neighbouring station. The 5ft x 3ft flag, sponsored by Sirius Inisght, will be electronically tagged and relayed using all different types of transport including boats and ferries, tractor and trailer, horse and cart, classic cars and by walking and running.

When the flag relay has been completed, the flag will be taken to Trinity House in London for a special commemorative event at the end of September where it will be installed for the duration of the National Coastwatch Institution 30^th anniversary year. Trinity House is a charity dedicated to safeguarding shipping and seafarers, providing education, support and welfare to the seafaring community.

National Coastwatch volunteer watchkeepers help to keep people safe and save lives at sea by maintaining a daily visual and radio watch of the coast, looking out for anyone in potential danger. They report any coastal safety-related incidents to HM Coastguard so that expert help can be sent, including the Coastguard Rescue Teams and helicopters, the RNLI, independent lifeboats and all emergency services. 

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