27th June 2022. This Saturday saw the iconic Round the Island Race on the Isle of Wight, setting off from Cowes.

The National Coastwatch Institution station overlooking the Needles were expecting a busy day and deployed seven watchkeepers – three in the lookout station and four more at vantage points on the coast to keep watchful eyes on the competitors.

And it seriously was a busy couple of watches on race day with 4 Mayday calls,s, 3 Pan Pan calls and 3 collisions with the SS Varvassi boiler (although without any noticeable damage caused)..

Well done to all the Needles watchkeepers and the rest of the SAR family for all their hard work throughout the event.