Falmouth RNLI volunteer crew launch to assist yacht during Storm Darragh
Falmouth’s Severn class all-weather lifeboat Richard Cox Scott launched on Saturday afternoon (7 December) in response to numerous reports received by the HM Coastguard about a yacht dragging its anchor towards the shore on the east side of Carrick Roads near St Just.
The lifeboat, under the command of Coxswain Jonathon Blakeston, left her pontoon at 3.37pm in very difficult weather conditions with a 60-70 mph north-west wind blowing directly onto the berth. Arriving on scene at 3.46pm, an 8-metre yacht was located on the east bank of the channel, south of St Just and was clearly dragging its anchor and in danger of going aground.
The lifeboat was manoeuvred in close to the casualty to assess the situation and to alert the single occupant using a loud hailer. The lifeboat crew prepared gear for towing and after three attempts to pass the tow line, it was made secure at 3.56pm. By this time the yacht was less than 100 metres from the shore in three to four metres of water in heavy seas.
The casualty was towed into the main channel and then up to Turnaware Bar at which point, the towline was shortened before approaching the Turnaware pontoon. Due to the yachts anchor still being deployed, it proved difficult to get it alongside the pontoon but the lifeboat crew eventually managed to release the anchor and the yacht was safely secured at 5.35pm.
The all-weather lifeboat was released from service at 6.04pm but conditions in the harbour prevented a return to her berth. The relief Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Julie Poolie launched to assist in securing the all-weather lifeboat to a commercial mooring in the harbour and to take the crew ashore. They were landed at Pendennis Marina at 7.45pm and the inshore lifeboat was recovered to the slipway in poor conditions at 7.55pm.
Falmouth RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Nick Lewis said: ’Storm Darragh produced some of the worst weather and sea conditions we’ve seen in Carrick Roads and the coxswain and crew are to be commended for the way they handled the situation.’
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For more information please contact Simon Culliford, RNLI Volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer on 07971 986978 or [email protected] or Emma Haines, RNLI Regional Communications Manager on 07786 668847 or [email protected] or alternatively contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789 or [email protected]
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