Sandy Point is the south east tip of the Island and is a large remnant of the sandy heathland that must have been the natural state of much of South Hayling at the start of the 20th Century. For many years it was saved from development by being the grounds of a hospital that once stood here. Nowadays the grounds have been saved as a County Council Nature Reserve but the site of the hospital itself has been lost to new housing.
Since 1975, Sandy Point has also been the Hayling home of the R.N.L.I. who have a station at this entrance to Chichester harbour. Crewed by volunteers, and funded entirely through charitable donation, the lifeboats of Hayling are on stand by throughout the year and serve to make our waters safer. For those wishing to see the boats up close, the boathouse is open to the public every Sunday and they are launched on exercise every Wednesday.