Sennen Cove lifeboat launches twice to fishing vessel and yacht

A fishing vessel had suffered a fouled propeller and was stranded in the middle of the north bound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme seven miles west of Sennen Cove.

The RNLI Tamar class lifeboat City of London III launched at 11.12pm to go to her assistance. The lifeboat arrived on scene at 11.40pm, and once the crew had ascertained that the casualty was free to move, a tow was attached and the journey to Newlyn began.

The passage was slow but without incident, and they arrived in Newlyn harbour at 2.30am Thursday morning. The casualty was safely berthed and the lifeboat returned to Sennen Cove at 3.35am.

Barely six hours later, the City of London III launched again at 9.45 am on Thursday morning nine August. This time it was to render assistance to a single-handed yacht. She was half a mile north west of the Brisons and had developed a fuel leak. The skipper reported that the fumes in the cabin were overwhelming.

The lifeboat quickly arrived on scene, and the crew were informed that the skipper had switched off the engine to prevent any chance of fire. After a lengthy discussion the lifeboat coxswain and HM Coastguard Falmouth it was decided that, although the skipper wanted to go to Mousehole, the best course of action was to undertake a tow to the safety of Newlyn harbour. A line was set up and the tow commenced.

Since the Sennen Cove crew had already been out on service earlier, the Coastguard asked the Penlee all-weather lifeboat crew to take over the tow at an agreed point. The two lifeboats met at the Runnelstone, and the changeover was successfully carried out at 12.20pm. The Sennen Cove lifeboat returned to station at 12.40pm, and the Penlee lifeboat arrived in Newlyn at about 2pm.

A busy time for the Sennen Cove volunteer crew!

RNLI media contacts
For more information contact Brian Simpson Sennen Cove Lifeboat Press Officer 01736 871 631 or 07762 057127 [email protected] or the Duty Press Officer on 01202 336789

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