About

Visit the former St Peter Port (Guernsey) Lifeboat ‘Sir William Arnold’, which is now a permanent feature on the waterfront at Gunwharf Quays. Members of the public will be welcomed on board during selected weekend and school holidays.

This early Arun class lifeboat, originally built in Littlehampton, is one of the most iconic looking and famous lifeboats in the history of the RNLI. Highly regarded & respected by her volunteer crews from the island of Guernsey, this prototype became the forerunner of today’s modern all-weather lifeboat. She was involved in some dramatic and heroic rescues during a lifesaving career that spanned three decades; launching over 500 times and saving 223 lives.

The Sir William Arnold is also probably one of the most decorated lifeboats in the RNLI, earning her coxswains and crew a total of fifteen RNLI gallantry medals and an array of awards for gallantry from around the world. 

Background

In the 1970s, the RNLI had been developing a new faster class of lifeboat to replace an ageing fleet of 8-knot boats. After a fundraising campaign in Guernsey, the local RNLI branch raised over £50,000 – approximately £1 for each Guernsey resident.

On 23 May 1974 she was named by HRH The Duchess of Kent after Sir William Arnold, Vice-President of the fundraising branch and Bailiff of Guernsey.

The rescue of the Bonita in December 1981 was by far the most famous rescue in this lifeboat’s career when, battling a Force 12 hurricane, darkness, and seas of 40 feet in height, the crew of the Sir William Arnold rescued 29 people from the Ecuadorian vessel sinking out in the English Channel.

Throughout her years of service, the vessel was loved and hugely respected by her coxswains and crew and to this day is still widely accepted as one of the greatest lifeboats the RNLI built. The people of Guernsey fondly referred to her as their lifeboat. 

Retirement

In 1997, Sir William Arnold was retired and sold out of service, being replaced by the more modern Severn-class lifeboat. In retirement, 52-02 had a number of owners who made their own modifications, until she was purchased by her current owner in 2019. Recognising the importance and significance this vessel has made to maritime history, this owner set about restoring her back to how she would have looked in operational service in order to open her up to the public, as a floating lifeboat museum and a nationally historic vessel in her own right.

The National Historic Fleet comprises vessels which are considered to be of pre-eminent national or regional significance; span the spectrum of UK maritime history; and illustrate changes in construction and technology. The Sir William Arnold is one of only 15 lifeboats in this register, something of which her owners, volunteers and supporters are hugely proud.

Open days

The public can access all areas of this historic lifeboat (including the engine room) - and from time to time may even hear the engines being run - or see her leave or return to her berth.

Admission is just £3.50 for adults and £1 for children for a general tour, where guests are invited to walk around the lifeboat at leisure and ask any questions.

Alternatively, for £10.50 you could book a bespoke guided tour and talk for up to 20 people, which lasts approximately 90 minutes.

The Sir William Arnold is also available for static hire for private functions (by special arrangement).