Padstow RNLI volunteer crew launch to reports of an overdue yacht

The last known position of the yacht was 27 miles north of Trevose. The lifeboat crew began a search as no yacht was found at this location. During this search, Falmouth Coastguard received more information. The yacht was in fact not due into Padstow Harbour until Wednesday 15 May. As a result, the lifeboat crew were stood down and headed back to the station.

At 10.20pm as the crew were arriving back at the lifeboat station, they were tasked again because a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) alert had been received from the Pink Delta.

The updated location put that yacht 16.5 miles northwest of Stepper Point. Coastguard Helicopter 924 was also tasked. Arriving on the scene, Coastguard Helicopter 924 confirmed it was the Pink Delta with one person on board and was stood down.

Two Padstow lifeboat crew went aboard the yacht to assess the casualty who had fallen and hit her head. Due to the conditions, it was decided that the two RNLI crew would stay onboard the yacht with the casualty and Padstow RNLI lifeboat took the yacht under tow.

At 3.33am the yacht was left safely moored in the Camel Estuary and the casualty was transferred to Padstow lifeboat and taken back to the station at Trevose. Paramedics at the station assessed the casualty and took her to the Royal Cornwall Hospital (Treliske) for observation.

Padstow Coxswain Richard Pitman said ‘It was great to see the skipper had the means to call for help and we were glad we could be there. We don’t see many bright pink yachts. We wish her all the best with the rest of her solo sail around the UK’

The skipper is now safe and well and returned to her yacht, preparing for the next stage of her voyage. Skipper Freya Terry said: ‘I’m confident I did everything I could to keep myself as safe as possible but there are always lessons to be learned. I’m glad to know that even when I was experiencing communication problems, the systems I’d put in place worked. I’m so grateful to everyone involved in the search, and to Falmouth Coastguard and Padstow RNLI for their support.’

To find out more about Freya’s voyage around the UK to raise awareness for mental health please visit her website https://she-sails.co.uk/

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].

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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 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.

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 142,700 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.

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.