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RNLI lifeguards and lifeboat crews rescue yacht in difficulty off north Cornwall

Lifeboats News Release

RNLI volunteers from St Agnes, Newquay and Padstow lifeboat stations and Perranporth RNLI lifeguards were all called into action on Monday afternoon (29 April) to assist a yacht which had got into difficulty off the coast of Perranporth.

On Monday afternoon in poor conditions with strong onshore winds, RNLI lifeguards at Perranporth noticed that a vessel was in difficulty close to shore.

Lifeguards launched the rescue watercraft and made contact with the crew of the yacht who informed the lifeguards they had lost power and their VFH signal was down, meaning they were unable to communicate.

With the weather worsening and the risk of the yacht drifting into the surfing area, the Coastguard tasked RNLI volunteer lifeboat crews from St Agnes and Newquay to assist the stricken vessel.

St Agnes RNLI’s D-Class lifeboat was launched by volunteer crew at 12:25pm alongside Newquay RNLI’s Atlantic class lifeboat. The RNLI lifeguards remained on scene to assist on the rescue watercraft.

After assessing the situation, a decision was made to undertake a tow.

With a long tow ahead in challenging conditions, the all-weather Tamar class lifeboat from Padstow RNLI was launched to take over the tow from Newquay RNLI. St Agnes RNLI lifeboat crews accompanied the yacht as she was towed to meet the Padstow RNLI lifeboat, which then took over the tow. St Agnes lifeboat helped to transfer Padstow lifeboat volunteers aboard the casualty vessel and return the Newquay RNLI lifeboat volunteer back to the Atlantic lifeboat.

With the casualty vessel and her crew in the safe hands of Padstow RNLI, the St Agnes and Newquay lifeboat crews returned to station.

Padstow lifeboat then towed the yacht back to the lifeboat mooring in the River Camel as the tide was low so they could not take it into Padstow Harbour.

Padstow RNLI returned to the station at 5.30pm and refuelled and were ready for service at 6pm. 

Volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager for St Agnes RNLI, Emma Watkins said, “This is a great example of the RNLI working as one crew. Each RNLI vessel has its strengths and today showed that the training our crews receive allows them to work together to the highest standards.”

Notes to editors

  • Photo attached is taken from footage from onboard the St Agnes lifeboat


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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, in a normal year, 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.

RNLI at 200

On 4 March 2024, the RNLI celebrates 200 years of saving lives at sea – thanks to volunteers giving their time to save others, all funded by voluntary public donations. Throughout its 200th anniversary year, the charity is running events and activities to commemorate its history, celebrate the lifesaving service it provides today, and inspire generations of future lifesavers and supporters. For more information visit RNLI.org/200.

RNLI/Archie Connolly

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 146,000 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.

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