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

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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