Framed Letter of Thanks presented to Falmouth RNLI volunteers
The Letter of Thanks, written by Adrian Carey, RNLI Head of South West Region, was recently presented by RNLI Area Lifesaving Manager James Millidge to members of the lifeboat and shore crew who were involved in the service call out on the evening of Wednesday 20 October 2021.
Falmouth’s Severn class all-weather lifeboat Richard Cox Scott and B class Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Robina Nixon Chard launched just after 7pm in response to a mayday call from the yacht Sharifa with two people onboard after dragging her mooring and becoming entangled with the sailing vessel Irene in Falmouth’s Inner Harbour. The weather was extreme with storm force winds gusting up to 90 mph, a swell of between 1.5 and 2 metres and a very high tide.
Falmouth RNLI Coxswain Jonathon Blakeston described the night as unusual. He said: ‘I have never seen weather like it in the harbour before.’
The inshore lifeboat put a crew member onboard the yacht and the all-weather lifeboat towed it clear and placed it alongside the Irene. The yacht had suffered some damage while entangled with the sailing vessel.
The lifeboats also checked out a number of other vessels that had dragged their moorings and ensured that anyone onboard was safe. This included the yacht Windsong which had been found drifting close to the lifeboat station. The vessel was towed clear and secured on a pontoon.
On presenting the letter to the crew, James Millidge said: ‘It was an exceptional service and showed excellent seamanship. To go out in those horrendous conditions and assist those vessels really did demonstrate all of the core RNLI values of selflessness, dependability, trustworthiness and courage. It is a privilege to present this to you.’
Falmouth RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Nick Lewis added his personal thanks to the coxswain and crew of the all-weather lifeboat and helm and crew on the inshore lifeboat. He said: ‘There was some quite exceptional close quarters boat handling in getting numerous vessels to safe moorings within the harbour. Without doubt both lifeboats performed remarkable rescues while ensuring the safety of their crews, a job very well done. My thanks also go to the shore crew who assisted in the safe launch and recovery of our lifeboats and crews.’
The all-weather lifeboat was crewed by Second Coxswain Luke Wills, Mechanic Andy Edwards, Navigator Nick Head and crew members Dave Nicoll, William Allen, Chris Simpson, James Murray and Lloyd Barron. The B class inshore lifeboat was crewed by Helm Jamie Connolly and crew members Wendy Rabett, Joe Garmory-Amps and Cadan Harris. The shore crew involved were Stacie Nicoll, Ian Bailey, Jack Chuter and Ian Cocklin.
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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 146,000 lives.
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