MICHELIN star chef, Nathan Outlaw, has donated £14,000 towards Port Isaac RNLI’s new D class inshore lifeboat.

The cheque presentation made by his team at Outlaw’s Fish Kitchen, kick starts the Port Isaac fundraising appeal, which launched on November 1, to raise the £52,000 needed to fund the new lifeboat.

A D class inshore lifeboat has served Port Isaac since 1967 but the present one, the Copeland Bell, has reached the end of its operational life and needs to be replaced. The new lifeboat will be of the very latest design and will be faster, fitted out with high-tech navigation equipment and an updated first aid kit.

The appeal aims to raise the total amount needed to provide the lifeboat, its engine and all relevant equipment to help save lives at sea.

The D class lifeboat has been the workhorse of the RNLI for 50 years. It’s small and highly manoeuvrable, making it ideal for rescues close to shore. It has a single outboard engine and can be righted manually by the three crew following a capsize.

Bob Bulgin, volunteer RNLI chairman of Port Isaac RNLI, said the D class lifeboat is a vital asset to the stretch of coastline served by the Port Isaac volunteer crew.

He said: “The north Cornwall coast is exposed to westerly storms and large surf rolling in off the Atlantic. With steep cliffs, caves and sheltered coves, the conditions our volunteer crews are working in are often challenging. This new D class inshore lifeboat will provide us with a valuable tool and complement the fleet of D class lifeboats at Bude and Rock, which are supported by the all-weather lifeboat at Padstow to provide safety cover along the coastline.

“We are very grateful to Nathan Outlaw and his team for kick starting our appeal with such an incredible amount. This will go a long way towards the £52,000 needed to fund the lifeboat and we’re looking forward to a calendar of events over the next year to raise the money needed.”

Through customer donations at Outlaw’s Fish Kitchen, the small, 20-seat restaurant located in the heart of the village, managed to raise the £14,000 over the course of a year.

The smaller of Nathan’s two restaurants in Port Isaac, Outlaw’s Fish Kitchen achieved 1 Michelin star in its first year of opening, which it has subsequently retained each year since. The restaurant neighbours the Port Isaac RNLI and has supported the lifeboat station through customer donations and fundraising from its very first opening day, raising over £27,000 since August 2013.

Ian Dodgson, general manager for Outlaw’s Fish Kitchen, said: “We’re completely honoured to be able to support such a worthy cause. What I think most people forget is that the RNLI is made up of volunteers willing to take time out of their lives, and often disrupt their business, when responding to shout outs. The team at Port Isaac all have a huge undertaking to respond to regular calls and keep the station well prepared, along with the constant need to raise funds. They are all local people selflessly giving their time.

“It’s a privilege to be able to help in any way towards ensuring they have the best equipment and resources for them to better respond to shout outs in dangerous conditions at sea, and we’re delighted to hear that this year’s £14,000 will kick start the fundraising campaign for a new boat.”