Sennen Cove RNLI volunteers launch to assist yacht taking on water.

The RNLI volunteer crew’s pagers activated at 11.20am and the lifeboat launched at 11.27am with six crew, under the command of duty Coxswain Kirstan Gorvin, on his first service launch as coxswain.

The Lifeboat arrived with the casualty at 11.50am where two yachts and the Isles of Scilly cargo transport vessel Gry Maritha were standing by to assist if needed.

Luckily the crew of the yacht had managed to temporarily stop the leak and prevent the situation from getting worse. A RNLI volunteer crew member was placed on the yacht with a salvage pump as a precaution in case the yacht started taking water again. With the casualty in the safe hands of the volunteer lifeboat crew, the vessels standing by the casualty could offer no further assistance and continued on their way.

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 casualties

The lifeboat crew then set up a tow with the yacht and commenced towing around 12.20pm. Steady progress was made in the fine weather and the yacht was safely towed to Newlyn harbour around 2.55pm, where the tow was shortened and the yacht brought safely alongside the quay

Once all was safe and well with the yacht and crew, the City of London III recovered the RNLI volunteer and salvage pump from the casualty vessel and returned to Sennen Cove where she was recovered up the long slip at 3.45 pm. The lifeboat was then washed down, refuelled and made ready her next service

Ends.

Notes to editors

Photos ; RNLI/Rich Castle

RNLI media contacts

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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For more information on the RNLI please visit rnli.org. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre rnli.org/news-and-media.

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 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 142,700 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.