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The town of Salcombe lies at the entrance to what is known locally as the 'Estuary' which is, in fact, a flooded valley. At the seaward end lies a notorious sand bar which, in certain wind and tide conditions, can prove treacherous for mariners. The rugged coastline to the east and west of Salcombe, combined with the elements, has also proven to be a contest for shipping and the lifeboat which has been established in the town since 1869. A popular resort and boating centre attracting visitors from around the world, Salcombe provides one of the highest numbers of 'overnight' stays per annum for visiting vessels anywhere in Europe.
The lifeboat station is situated in the town centre together with the station museum and RNLI shop. A Tyne class All Weather Lifeboat lies afloat alongside it's purpose built pontoon and is complemented by an Atlantic 75 Inshore Lifeboat housed in a boathouse adjacent to the existing station building. The crew are summoned by 'pager' and 'maroons' the latter also indicating to a casualty that assistance is on the way but is now only used in certain circumstances. Salcombe's neighbouring RNLI Lifeboats are at Plymouth and Torbay.
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