St Ives and Padstow RNLI volunteers assist unwell sailor aboard yacht

The pagers went off at 4.50am, and St Ives RNLI’s Shannon class all-weather lifeboat Nora Stachura was launched at 5am at the request of HM Coastguard. The volunteer crew made their way to the scene 16 miles north of St Ives Head.

The Coastguard rescue helicopter was also tasked to assist, and the lifeboat and helicopter arrived on scene moments apart.

With the yacht’s skipper unwell and the remaining people on board being one adult and two young children, a decision was made to put the helicopter winchperson and two RNLI crew aboard the casualty vessel. The unwell skipper was then airlifted from the yacht and taken to the Royal Cornwall Hospital.

St Ives RNLI Coxswain Rob Cocking assessed the situation and determined that the nearest safe harbour for the yacht and the remaining adult and children aboard was Padstow, due to the yacht being a single fin and the wind and sea conditions in St Ives bay. St Ives RNLI volunteer crew took command of the yacht and a course was set for Padstow with St Ives RNLI escorting.

Padstow RNLI volunteer crew launched their Tamar class lifeboat at 7am and headed 11.5 miles west southwest of Trevose to rendezvous with St Ives RNLI and take over the escort. St Ives RNLI was then stood down and returned to their station at around 9am.

Padstow RNLI Coxswain Richard Pitman assessed the situation, and due to the tide conditions and the necessity to access the harbour, it was deemed best to tow the yacht. A Padstow RNLI crew member boarded the yacht, and a tow line was established. The yacht was safely brought into Padstow Harbour. Padstow lifeboat returned to the station and was re-fuelled and ready for service by 12.30pm.

Media contacts

For more information please telephone Abigail Gough, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07460 484503 or [email protected] or Emma Haines, Regional Communications Manager on 07786 668847 or [email protected] or the RNLI press office on 01202 336789 / [email protected].

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.

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