Battling the Elements: Falmouth RNLI Rescues Yacht in Storm Darragh

Falmouth RNLI’s Severn class all-weather lifeboat, Richard Cox Scott, launched on Saturday afternoon, 7th December, in challenging conditions to assist a yacht drifting dangerously close to shore. Reports from HM Coastguard indicated that the yacht, anchored east of Carrick Roads near St Just, was dragging towards the shore amid Storm Darragh’s 60-70 mph winds.

Coxswain Jonathon Blakeston and the volunteer crew departed the pontoon at 3.37pm, braving heavy seas and a strong north-west wind blowing directly onto the berth. Within minutes, at 3.46pm, the crew located an 8-metre yacht south of St Just on the east bank of the channel. The vessel’s single occupant was alerted using a loud hailer as the yacht continued to drift dangerously, less than 100 metres from the shoreline.

Tense Rescue Effort

The crew swiftly prepared towing gear, making three attempts to pass a towline before securing it at 3.56pm. Despite heavy seas and the yacht being in just three to four metres of water, the lifeboat successfully towed the vessel into the main channel.

The operation continued towards Turnaware Bar, where the towline was shortened to safely guide the yacht to Turnaware pontoon. The yacht’s anchor, still deployed, posed challenges during the approach, but the crew eventually released it and secured the vessel at 5.35pm.

Lifeboat Returns Amid Difficult Conditions

Following the successful rescue, the all-weather lifeboat was released from service at 6.04pm. However, adverse conditions in the harbour prevented its return to the usual berth. The relief Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat, Julie Poolie, was launched to assist in securing the larger vessel to a commercial mooring. The crew was then ferried ashore, landing at Pendennis Marina at 7.45pm. The inshore lifeboat completed its recovery to the slipway by 7.55pm.

Praise for the Crew

Nick Lewis, Falmouth RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, commended the crew’s professionalism during the challenging operation. “Storm Darragh produced some of the worst weather and sea conditions we’ve seen in Carrick Roads, and the coxswain and crew are to be commended for the way they handled the situation,” Nick said.

Photo: Falmouth’s Seven class all-weather lifeboat Richard Cox Scott on exercise in Carrick Roads Credit: RNLI/Simon Culliford