Meet Portsmouth RNLI volunteer Josh Owens ahead of Round the Island Race

The RNLI has been named the Official Race Charity for 2024, an honour that comes as the institution celebrates 200 years of saving lives at sea and 146,000 lives saved from its combined lifeboats and lifeguarding services.

The charity will work closely with the Island Sailing Club to raise funds which will go to the seven stations involved in the race and specifically for the training of their volunteer crews. On race day, and every other day of the year, the crews’ lifesaving work is essential, often difficult and sometimes dangerous and with only 1 in 10 volunteers joining the RNLI from a professional maritime occupation, training is especially important.

With just one month to go until the starting guns sounds, we’re profiling a volunteer from each of the RNLI’s seven partnering lifeboat stations as crews prepare to provide safety cover for the event and ensure this year’s race is memorable for all the right reasons.

This week we meet volunteer Josh Owens from Portsmouth Lifeboat Station:

Name: Josh Owens

Age: 31

Day job: Operations Manager / Crew Captain at Field Gun Sport

Crew role: Volunteer Inshore Lifeboat Crew / Lifeboat Boathouse Manager

Why did you join the RNLI?

I went to an event organised by Portsmouth Lifeboat Station in 2018. It was there I heard about all the amazing lifesaving work that the volunteers do around Portsmouth and the Solent and it's here that sparked my intrigue for the RNLI and passion for saving lives at sea and I knew instantly that this was something that I wanted to get involved with.

What do you like most about volunteering for the RNLI?

There’re so many things that I enjoy about being a volunteer in the RNLI, but if I had to narrow it down, it would be being a part of a tight knit crew who come from different backgrounds for one main reason and that's to save lives at sea. It's like having a second family who share a bond forged through trust, reliance, and shared experiences. We depend on each other in challenging situations, just as family members do in tough times. There's a sense of camaraderie and all-round support. We work together seamlessly, understanding each other's strengths and weaknesses. I truly am proud to be a part of Portsmouth Lifeboat Station.

How do you feel about being the Round the Island Race charity partner and how will it impact lifeboat stations?

I think that it's a great opportunity for the RNLI and lifeboat stations involved. boosting awareness and support for the amazing work that the RNLI does. The partnership could also provide vital funds helping to obtain kit and equipment further supporting the RNLIs mission to save lives at sea.

Have you ever taken part in the race or provided safety cover as RNLI crew before?

No, this will be my first time providing safety cover.

What’s your message to competitors on the day?

I hope all those taking part have an amazing but most importantly safe day.

Organisers, The Island Sailing Club and the Race Team chose the RNLI as the official charity because of its involvement in safety planning for the past 93 years.

Dave Atkinson, Race Director said: ‘The Race Team, RNLI and Coastguard have worked closely together since the first Round the Island Race in 1931 to operate a safe race for all the competitors.

‘We are incredibly grateful for the safety cover and assistance that the RNLI station teams provide on race day and so we are especially pleased to announce that all the donations raised will go to the seven stations involved in the race and specifically for the training of their volunteer crews.’

Safety of all the participants is integral to the smooth running of the race. RNLI lifeboats from Cowes, Calshot, Bembridge, Mudeford, Lymington, Portsmouth and Yarmouth have been involved in the running of the event for many years and are strategically positioned around the course. For example, Bembridge RNLI will be positioned with their all-weather Tamar lifeboat on the furthest eastern side of the Isle of Wight and will provide cover for the final leg of the race, whereas Yarmouth RNLI will be positioned with their all-weather Severn class lifeboat at The Needles, the Isle of Wight’s most western point and where the sea conditions can change drastically without warning.

To donate, please visit our Just Giving Page here –

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/rnli-round-the-island-race-2024

RNLI media contacts

For more information please email Izzy Coley, RNLI Media Engagement Placement – South East Region on [email protected] or telephone RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.

RNLI at 200

On 4 March 2024, the RNLI celebrates 200 years of saving lives at sea – thanks to volunteers giving their time to save others, all funded by voluntary public donations. Throughout its 200^th anniversary year, the charity is running events and activities to commemorate its history, celebrate the lifesaving service it provides today, and inspire generations of future lifesavers and supporters. For more information visit RNLI.org/200.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.