Both Falmouth lifeboats launched twice on Saturday 10 October
A vessel with a trapped spinnaker and reports of a missing snorkeler saw Falmouth volunteer crew launch both the all-weather and inshore lifeboats twice to assist.
At 2.07pm, Falmouth inshore lifeboat Robina Nixon Chard was tasked to assist a racing yacht that had got into difficulty. The vessel’s spinnaker had become wrapped around the forestay and rigging and was proving impossible to get down in the strong winds. With other nearby yachts stopping to help, Falmouth all-weather lifeboat Robert Cox Scott was launched shortly after to assist if needed.
Having located the yacht 3 miles south of Pendennis Point, a crew member was transferred from the inshore lifeboat to the casualty vessel and a tow line was soon established. The inshore lifeboat, escorted by the all-weather lifeboat, then towed the racing yacht back towards Falmouth harbour where the spinnaker was able to be cut free and the yacht placed on a mooring.
Later on Saturday, both the all-weather and inshore lifeboats were requested to launch by Falmouth Coastguard in order to assist the Police and Falmouth Coastguard Rescue Team in the search for a snorkeler who was overdue on the time expected back on shore. Both vessels launched at 5.30pm and began searches in the area around Pennance Point and Swanpool Beach. Both Falmouth lifeboats were near Gyllyngvase Beach and about to extend their search areas, when at 5.55pm, Falmouth Coastguard advised that further information had been received and the lifeboats were stood down to return to the station to be refuelled and made ready for service by 6.30pm.
Key facts about the RNLI
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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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
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