Falmouth inshore lifeboat volunteer crew have a very busy weekend

The first call came at 1:30 pm on Saturday, whilst the lifeboat was on its way to Port Navas Regatta. It was to go to the aid of a 5.5m speed boat which had broken down off Falmouth Docks. The lifeboat drew alongside the speed boat and its two occupants confirmed that they could not get their engine to run so the lifeboat crew passed them a line and they were towed back into Falmouth Haven where they were safely moored up at 1:40 pm. The owner of the speed boat expressed his gratitude to the lifeboat crew for their efforts. Shortly afterwards the lifeboat was released to continue to Port Navas.
 
Having completed their stint at Port Navas Regatta, at 4:45 pm the inshore lifeboat was just leaving the Helford River on its way back to base when Falmouth Coastguard requested they go to the aid of a small motor boat which had been reported to be broken down off Pendennis Point. The lifeboat arrived on scene at 4:52 pm and passed a towline to the boat and towed her up to Mylor Harbour. She was safely moored up by 5:20 pm and the lifeboat was released back to its base. She arrived at 5:28 pm and after refuelling and a wash down was declared ready for service again at 5:40 pm. 

Just three minutes later they were requested by the Coastguard to go to the aid of a vessel reported to be taking on water between Greenbank Quay and Coastlines Wharf. They launched quickly, still being in the boathouse from the previous call out, and were consequently on scene at 5:53 pm. It was quickly established that the yacht was moored up but unmanned and appeared to have been taking on water over a long period. Details were obtained which would allow the Coastguard to contact the owner. The lifeboat was then released to return to station at 6:15 pm where it was refuelled, washed down and made ready for service again by 6:40.
 
The volunteer lifeboat crew were then able to go home for the night before they were called again, at 12:43 pm on Sunday, this time for a yacht reported to be capsized near Greenbank Quay. The Coastguard Cliff Rescue Team was also tasked to assist.

The lifeboat launched at 12:50 and was requested to commence a search for persons in the water off the Prince of Wales Pier. The Coastguard Mobile arrived on scene and advised that the capsized yacht was in fact between Greenbank Quay and Coastlines Wharf. The lifeboat headed up toward Penryn and quickly confirmed that the vessel was on a mooring, unoccupied and in fact, it was the one they had attended to on the Saturday. The lifeboat was released to return to station at 1:10 pm and after wash down and refuelling was declared ready for service again by 1:30.

The lifeboat volunteers’ weekend was not yet complete as at 4:39 Falmouth Coastguard requested that they go to the assistance of the 8.5m yacht Wahoo which had reported getting a fishing pot marker wrapped around her propeller some 1½ miles off Pendennis Point.

The lifeboat launched at 4:45 pm and was on scene seven minutes later. A lifeboat crewman was put on board the yacht to assess the situation. Using a weighted line hauled under the yacht’s keel they were able to recover the pot line which was then freed from the propeller and, after confirming that there was no damage to propeller or steering gear, the lifeboat crewman was recovered and the yacht was escorted back into Falmouth Harbour. At 5:22 the lifeboat was released back to station where it was recovered, refuelled and made ready for service again by 5:48 pm.

Notes to editors
This ended a very busy period for the following volunteers: 
Diane Bush; (Helm on four of the call outs), Jonathan Jeeves (three shouts) Jamie Wakefield (four shouts) and Jamie Connoly (one shout). The last call out on Sunday was crewed by; Elliot Holman (Helm); Josh Beardmore and Jake Ingleby.

RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact; Gerry Gearon, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 01326 212438, [email protected]; or Emma Haines, Public Relations Manager South West on 01752 850689, [email protected]; or contact RNLI Public Relations on 01202 336789.
 

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The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

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