Sennen Cove RNLI volunteers launch to assist yacht taking on water.
The Sennen Cove all-weather lifeboat City of London III launched on Thursday 26 August following a request from HM Coastguard Falmouth after receiving a Pan Pan call for help from a yacht, with one person on board, saying that he was taking on water, three miles west-north-west of Pendeen.
The RNLI volunteer crew’s pagers activated at 3.06pm and the lifeboat quickly launched with seven crew, under the command of Coxswain Ollie George.
The Lifeboat arrived with the casualty at 3.36pm and two RNLI volunteer crew members were placed on board the yacht to provide assistance. It was discovered that the ingress of water was caused by a mechanical issue and once the engines were stopped the yacht stopped taking on water.
As the casualty was unable to continue unaided and there remained the risk of her starting to take on water again the Coxswain made the decision that undertaking a tow to the nearest ‘safe and suitable port’ was necessary and the safest way to assist the lone yachtsman.
The RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew set up a tow with the yacht and commenced towing around 3.55pm. Good progress was made in the fine weather and the yacht was safely towed to Newlyn harbour around 6.15pm, where the tow was shortened and the yacht brought safely alongside
Once all was safe and well with the yacht and its owner the City of London III recovered the two crew from the casualty vessel and returned to Sennen Cove where she was recovered up the short slip at 7.20pm. The lifeboat was then washed down, refuelled and made ready her next service
Ends.
Notes to editors
Photos ; RNLI/Tim Stevens
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For more information please telephone Brian Simpson, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 01736 871631, or 07762 057127 or [email protected], or Tim Stevens, Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer on 07971518403 or [email protected] or Amy Caldwell, Regional Media Manager on 07920818807 or [email protected] or contact the RNLI Press Office 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 over 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 142,200 lives.
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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