RNLI assistance for exhausted rowers

Saturday 15 August 2026

Penlee RNLI were tasked by Falmouth Coastguard just after 11pm on 14th August 2026 to assist two transatlantic rowers who were fatigued, cold and struggling against the tide, east of the Runnel Stone, one mile south of Gwennap Head.

picture shows a rowing boat under tow — Ivan Ellen tows rowing boat

Coxswain Patch Harvey with Mechanic Andrew Wood and a crew of 5 RNLI volunteers, launched Penlee’s all-weather lifeboat Ivan Ellen and made best speed to the casualty who had already drifted 2 miles since the original call in a strong ebbing tide and northerly wind force 4-5.

Coxswain Patch Harvey said: “There was nothing we could do to assist, medical assistance wasn’t necessary but they were cold, tired and failing to make headway.” After assessing the options for the rowers Patch decided the safest action was to tow them into Newlyn, the nearest safe harbour. The lifeboat with the rowing boat in tow arrived in Newlyn at 3am.

The rowers, Dawn Smith and Paul Lore, were devastated, having failed just short of success. They had been attempting to row from Canada to England, had spent 59 days at sea and covered more than 2000 miles.

Notes to editors
Penlee RNLI is based in Newlyn, Penzance, Cornwall TR18 5HW. The volunteers crew an all-weather Severn Class Lifeboat the Ivan Ellen and a B class Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat the Mollie and Ivor Dent. The Penlee Lifeboat has a rich 200 years history of saving lives at sea.

Picture shows to lifeboat volunteers attending a rowing boat — Penlee lifeboat crew manage rowering boat

Picture shows RNLI volunteers helping rowers — Penlee RNLI volunteers help rowers

Picture shows a rowing boat in Newlyn harbour — The rowing boat picture in Newlyn harbour

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Philip Monckton, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI South West, [email protected]

Kyle Reed, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for South West England, 07786 668847, [email protected]

Amy Caldwell, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for South West England, 07920 818807, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

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

The weather's hot, but the water's cold

RNLI assistance for exhausted rowers

RNLI Media Contacts

Key facts about the RNLI

Learn more about the RNLI

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

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