Falmouth RNLI all-weather lifeboat launches to assist a lone sailor

The casualty was located 7 miles east south east of Nare Head with the lifeboat arriving on scene at 8.43am. Because of concerns about some gear and rigging failures, two lifeboat crew members were put on board the yacht to de-rig the sails. Due to the sea conditions the lifeboat’s inflatable Y boat was used to transfer the crew. Once this was completed, the yacht was then towed to Falmouth Harbour and safely put on a mooring.

Falmouth RNLI Coxswain Jonathon Blakeston said: ‘The yacht was on passage from the east bound for Anglesey and had no VHF radio and no navigation equipment. The casualty was located by triangulation of his phone signal with the help of the Coastguard.’

This service came after a very busy bank holiday weekend for Falmouth volunteer lifeboat crews. The inshore lifeboat was launched once on Friday and once on Saturday but the busiest day was Bank Holiday Monday with two call outs for the all-weather lifeboat and three for the inshore lifeboat.

Falmouth RNLI Coxswain Jonathon Blakeston said: ‘The last week has been an intense and testing time for our volunteer crews but they responded well in what were sometimes difficult circumstances. The incidents included a boat which was burnt to the waterline and lost and a casualty vessel being towed into Fowey Harbour.’

Notes to editor

• The photo shows Falmouth’s Severn class all-weather lifeboat Richard Cox Scott with the 22 foot yacht alongside. Credit: David Barnicoat.

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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 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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