The Helford River

What's going on at Nare Point?

Walkers on the South West Coastal Footpath and even some passing sailors and fishermen have remarked on unusual signs of activity in the old MOD observation post at Nare Point and even a strange flag flying amongst the antennae and weather recording equipment at weekends. This has all given rise to lots of questions. Here are some answers:

Q. Who or what has taken over the Station?
A. The National Coastwatch Institution (N.C.I.)

Q. Who on earth are they?
A. A voluntary organisation which was formed as a direct result of a tragedy 14 years ago in which two fishermen from Cagwith lost their lives within sight of a coastguard station which had been recently closed due to government cutbacks. The local people, including the mother of those fishermen, decided to restore a visual watch and the first Coastwatch station was opened at Bass Point in 1994.

Q. Surely you're only a little organisation, what can you possibly hope to achieve?
A. Not so little any more! - at the last count we we had 37 operational stations - more under active investigation - with over 1500 volunteer watchkeepers (10% of whom are women) from as far south as Lands End in the South West to as far North as Hartlepool in the North East. We aim eventually to achieve a visual watch in daylight hours over all areas of our coastline to ensure that if anyone gets into trouble they are seen, and the alarm can be raised.

Q. Isn't that the Job of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)?
A. Not any more - with constraints on funding and a much greater emphasis on technology for their watchkeeping, the MCA don't have the time or the resources to keep visual watches. Not all small boats have the technology to contact the MCA in an emergency - you can't see a flare on the radar - and if someone goes overboard they normally have their mobile phone in their pocket !!

Q. What's the new window on the side of the Nare Point Station all about?
A. That's so we can see to the west and north of the station - it gives us a field of vision which includes Gillan Harbour, St Anthonys, the mouth of the Helford River to Trebah Beach, Maenporth Cove, August Rock, Falmouth beach, mouth of Falmouth Harbour, and from our main window we can see St Anthony's Head, all of Fal Bay, south past Porthallow Cove and Porthkerris to the Manacles, we also have a view of the SW Coastal footpath over Nare Head and watch for anyone in trouble an the cliffs. This new window has created, in effect, an additional observation point which means that, whereas most Coastwatch stations can be manned by a single watchkeeper, we need to have two on duty for each watch.

Q. Who paid for the renovation of the old station?
A. We are indebted to the owners of the building, The National Trust, for their help in making the structure sound and replacing the huge shutters which protect the main window of the building; they have also secured funding for us from their Enterprise Neptune Campaign, the MoD Veterans Challenge Fund and the Tanner Trust to help complete the renovation. Further funds to go towards the purchase and refurbishment of the equipment were kindly donated by the Gannett Foundation Trust (with the help of the Helford Packet newspaper) and the St. Keverne Parish Council. Most of the actual work has been completed by NCI members themselves to reduce the overall cost. Now we are on our own to fund the running and maintenance of the station - hence the NCI Nare Point collecting boxes which have appeared in many local shops and pubs and outside the station itself. (Please give generously!!)

Q. Are the watchkeepers paid?
A. No: all of the NCI station personnel give their time on a voluntary basis they cannot claim for travelling expenses and they supply their own uniforms.

Q. What sort of qualities make a watchkeeper?
A. Common sense, reasonable eyesight, the ability to keep calm and act decisively in an emergency and a sense of humour is a must (The same qualities needed to be a parent or a car driver!) Everything else we can teach you. Our watchkeepers come from all walks of life, from both sexes and from ages ranging from eighteen to eighty(and beyond). The one thing that they all have in common is a feeling for the community and the wonderful area in which they live and a desire to contribute to the welfare of the people who use the coastline.

Q. What would I have to do to become a qualified watchkeeper?
A. Attend several 'training watches' to gain a working knowledge of how the station operates, learn how to keep a log book, and how to use and monitor the station's equipment, which includes radar, AIS, VHF radio, electronic weather station, compass and powerful binoculars. You would also be taught(if you don't know already) how to use a maritime chart. Each stage of the training is recorded in an 'Individual qualification record' and an assessment is made by the Station Manager as to when the watchkeeper is qualified. This is not rocket science! The training sessions are enjoyable and there is no pressure or time limit for qualification.

Q. How come you're only open at weekends?
A. That's easy; we only have enough watchkeepers at the moment to mount six four hour watches each week – we will soon be able to open on an additional day each week, as we did on the last Bank Holiday, and hope, during the winter when there are less hours of daylight, to mount two watches every day. We would like to have many more volunteers – the more we have, the more time the station can spend watching, (And, incidentally, the less time each individual needs to commit).

Q. I'd like to help what can I do?
A. The easiest way to get to know us would be to come along to the St. Keverne Parish Hall on the first monday of any month at 7.30 pm. We have a monthly progress meeting and you would be made very welcome.

You could contact Alan Edwards,our Station Manager, by phone on 01326 280809 and ask him anything you want to know. Or send an e-mail to narepointnci@tiscali.co.uk.

If you feel you would like to to become an NCI watchkeeper or would like to help in any other way, please, don't be afraid to come along to any of the meetings or contact Alan.

Len Jepp NCI Nare Point 7/10/07