Sennen Cove RNLI volunteers launch to assist disabled yacht
The Sennen Cove all-weather lifeboat City of London III launched on Sunday 27 June following a request from HM Coastguard Falmouth after receiving a call for help from a 9 metre yacht, with two people on board, saying that they had lost their steering four and a half miles north west of Sennen Cove.
The RNLI volunteer crew’s pagers activated at 3.26pm and the lifeboat launched at 3.35pm with seven crew, under the command of duty Coxswain Kirstan Gorvin. They made a safe speed to the yacht with limited visibility in heavy rain and a moderate sea.
The Lifeboat arrived with the casualty at 3.55pm where the Coxswain assessed the situation and made the decision that undertaking a tow to the nearest ‘safe and suitable port’ was necessary and the safest way to assist the casualties
As the yacht had no way to control her steering the lifeboat crew passed a drogue to the yacht to trail over her stern to try keep her straight. They then set up a tow with the yacht and commenced towing around 4.05pm. Steady progress was made once both boats had passed through the strong tidal streams that flow around Lands End and the yacht was safely towed to Newlyn harbour and the yacht brought safely alongside the quay at 7.45pm
Once all was safe and well with the yacht and crew, the City of London III returned to Sennen Cove where she was recovered up the short slip at 8.50 pm. The lifeboat was then washed down, refuelled and made ready her next service
Ends.
Notes to editors
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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 142,700 lives.
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