Cowes Week typically marks a busy period for the town's team of RNLI volunteers — and this year is no different.

"The more wind we get. The more work we get. It's inevitable", Cowes RNLI Station Manager, Mark Southwell, told the County Press.

His team have been ready and waiting, should race competitors require their help.

The station is crewed by 50 people, made up of launch authorities, helms, boat crew, shore crew, and officers.

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Even if they don't have a shout to go to, they still try and launch every afternoon, with a view to giving crew training.

It means they're constantly on standby should they be needed. Until that time, Mark said it is about keeping calm and composed.

"We're always relaxed", Mark said.

"This is not about getting excited. That's dangerous. If you're hyped up with expectation, you don't make rational decisions."

Before every shout and training exercise, a briefing is given to crew about what to expect and any other information, including conditions, is passed on.

When the County Press visited, Ady Stothard, Chris O’Connell, Andy Bond, Sophie Bluestone and Keith Mitchell were among those on hand.

Isle of Wight County Press: Crew being briefed before their training exercise.Crew being briefed before their training exercise. (Image: Isle of Wight County Press)

For Mark, who joined the station in 2008, the busiest Cowes Week regatta he can remember was 2013.

"Sometimes you got three shouts, one after the other. Various boats had got to the same buoy where it's really really choppy", he said.

"You make sure the crew are alright and if that boat can be towed in by someone else than that's good news."

Speaking to the County Press on the first day of this year's racing, Mark said it was difficult to know what to expect.

"Wind puts the pressure on the sailing boats, which do break over time. Even the best organised, best crewed boats do have accidents.

"And unfortunately people do damage themselves as well as their boats. If they call us and need us, the coastguard will send us."

Last year a boat sank and the crew were swiftly tasked to help those onboard, Mark recalled.

Already this year, crews have been called to a man overboard, a boat crash and a woman with a suspected broken wrist, among other shouts.

On top of the station crew they also have a visits team of 20 and a century-old fundraising team, of around 20.

Read more: Isle of Wight Cowes RNLI hoping to inspire more women volunteers

Mark is also on a mission to bust the myth that the RNLI is a "man's game".

In the future, he wants to see the station become a 50/50 split between men and women and "rightly so".

Cowes RNLI, which operates from Watchhouse Lane and is the only station to have been be opened by the late Queen, can be visited throughout Cowes Week.