Following a service launch request received by our duty Launch Authority, our crew pagers sounded at 2.04am.. An immediate launch was authorised and under the command of duty Coxswain Darren Thirlaway, RNLB Rose launched on service at 2.22am with an additional 6 crew members on board.
The tasking was to go to the assistance of an 11m French sailing vessel with 3 people on board in an approximate position of 23 nautical miles south west of Lizard Point. The yacht was suffering from a damaged rudder and was unable to sail, it’s occupants issued a Pan Pan call to HM Coastguards at Falmouth and they had also activated their EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) requesting assistance.
VHF communications with the stricken vessel were intermittent, thankfully another French vessel in the vicinity responded to the Pan Pan call and were able to stand by until the lifeboat arrived. They were also able to assist with radio communications.
An eta to their arrival on scene was given from the lifeboat as approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. With the yacht’s last known position confirmed, RNLB Rose arrived at 3.50am. Upon arrival a thorough assessment of the yacht’s situation was carried out and it was confirmed that none of the 3 people on board needed any medical attention. With damage to both the yacht’s prop and rudder the decision was taken to tow the vessel to the nearest port, Newlyn. A line was attached and the tow began at 4.52am.
Due to the limitations of the lifeboat bringing the yacht to a berth in Newlyn harbour, the Coxswain requested the assistance of Penlee ILB. Falmouth Coastguard proceeded to call for our colleagues at Penlee to meet with RNLB Rose, which took place at 9.50am. The tow was safely passed over and the crew on Penlee ILB safely took the yacht to a berth in Newlyn where it could seek assistance to repair the damage.
After over 8 hours at sea RNLB Rose and her crew where then able to return to the station at Kilcobben Cove shortly before 11am, where she was rehoused, refuelled and made ready for service again when required.
Thank you to our colleagues at Penlee Lifeboat and to all from our station here at The Lizard who responded to their pagers in the early hours of the morning.
"Pan Pan" is an international radiotelephony urgency signal used to indicate a serious situation that requires assistance but does not pose an immediate threat to life or the vessel
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.
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