Cowes Lifeboat Station is located in the old Customs House, at the end of Watch House Lane, in Cowes, a town located on the west bank of the River Medina estuary, at the northern tip of the Isle of Wight, overlooking the Solent.

The CIL was a full member of the Solent Sea-Rescue Organisation (SSRO), and under the direct control of H.M. Coastguard at Lee-on-the-Solent.

The SSRO was set up by Hampshire County Council in 1977, in partnership with maritime local authorities around the Solent as the umbrella organisation supporting beach and sea rescue units in the area.

[3][4] The organisation was primarily funded through numerous fundraising events, collections, donations and sponsorship, and also received a small grant from Hampshire County Council, who coordinated the collection of contributions from supporting Local Authorities, including the Isle of Wight Council, which was then distributed through the Solent Sea-Rescue Organisation.

In July 1995, a new 7.4 m (24 ft) Tornado RIB was named Spirit of Cowes by The Princess Royal.