Launches 2006

	Launches 2007
	More Launches

	10th April 2008 Padstow’s Tamar class lifeboat was summoned at 19.10 hrs to assist a Padstow crabber that had issued a call for help after picking up trawl net in its propeller. The Padstow crabber ‘The Icthus’ with four persons on board asked for assistance 16 miles NNE off Trevose Head at Widemouth Bay. The lifeboat launched and proceeded to the vessel. It was then towed back to Padstow Harbour. The lifeboat returned to station just after midnight. Thursday 22nd November 2007 Padstow’s Tamar class lifeboat was summoned at 15.15 hrs to assist a motor cruiser that had issued a call for help when it started to take in water. Falmouth Coastguards called out the Padstow lifeboat to go to the aid of a 43-ft motor cruiser ‘Alcatraz’ which was on route from Poole to Dublin with 4 people onboard, when the vessel started to take in water 22 miles west off Trevose Head. The lifeboat launched shortly after 15.30 hrs, along with a helicopter from 193 squadron, at RNAS Culdrose, who flew to the casualty with a pump. On reaching the casualty the crew of the vessel had managed to contain the situation and waited for the arrival of the lifeboat which then escorted the motor cruiser to Padstow. Tuesday 18th September 15.15 BST A local fishing boat got her fishing gear caught in her propeller which meant that she could go ahead or astern. A call was made to any vessels in the area to assist but there were none available. We launched and towed her back to the boathouse mooring, as there was insufficient water to get her up to the harbour. With the aid of a local diver the crew managed to clear the obstruction and once they were happy with their engine we returned to the boathouse. Friday 14th September 17.25 BST A yacht, which was on a delivery trip from Dartmouth to Swansea, got her propeller fouled by some discarded fishing net. The skipper didn’t feel confident that he could make Padstow Harbour under sail so he contacted Falmouth Coastguard. They put out a broadcast to all vessels in the area to see if anyone could assist the yacht. As no other vessels were able to help we launched and towed the yacht into Padstow. Saturday 25th August 15.30 BST Two canoes left Harlyn Bay to paddle out to Gulland Island. The visibility deteriorated whilst they were out and they could not find their way back to the beach. Relatives on shore raised the alarm when they became overdue. With the aid of Harlyn Bay Lifeguard's Inshore rescue boat we searched the area between the Gulland and the shore but there was no sign of the missing canoes. At times the visibility improved to approx a quarter of mile before closing down again to 200 yards. We received information that the canoes had turned up safe and well at the bottom of the Lifeboat Station slipway. They had followed the sound of the foghorn until they came to the lighthouse; from there they followed the cliffs back up to the Lifeboat station. We came back to the boathouse and took the canoes and their occupants aboard the Lifeboat returning them to Harlyn Bay. Once they were safely ashore we returned to station. Monday 20^th August 23.25 BST Falmouth Coastguard received a distress call from the vessel ‘Boxer’. Although the call seemed genuine it did not include the vessel’s position. Using the aerial at Trevose Head they obtained a DF bearing of 197 degrees, which put her somewhere between Trevose Head and Towan Head. We launched and once we had cleared Trevose Head we carried out a radar search following the bearing line down towards Newquay. Newquay’s Atlantic Inshore lifeboat was also launched and proceeded North towards us. Once we got within a mile of Towan Head we followed a creeping line ahead search back up towards Trevose. No relevant targets were detected so once we got within a mile of Trevose we returned to station. Friday 3^rd August 16.20 BST A small motor cruiser, on passage from Ilfracombe to Padstow, suffered engine problems 3 miles west of Tintagel Head. The vessel could not make any headway against the wind and tide so we launched to tow her into Padstow. As there was only one person onboard we transferred a crewman to assist with the towing operation. As there was sufficient water we were able to put her alongside in the harbour. Sunday 22^nd July 00.30 BST A motor cruiser, which had been towing another motor cruiser, got into difficulties when the tow rope fouled her propellers. We launched and towed the disabled vessel into Padstow whilst the other vessel managed to get in on one engine. Both vessels were secured to our mooring in the river to await the next high water. Sunday 15^th July 02.30 BST A 50-year-old man had been reported missing after going fishing from the cliffs. He was supposed to have returned before dark and when he didn’t his family raised the alarm. At approx 23.00 Falmouth coastguard started a search using cliff rescue teams and a helicopter fitted with thermal imaging. When nothing had been found at 02.30, we were launched to join the search. Nothing was found but several objects were spotted on the shoreline, which required investigation. At daybreak Newquay ILB joined us and a thorough search of the area was made. Unfortunately nothing was found so reluctantly we returned to station at 07.25. Sunday 15^th July 08.08 BST Whilst we were re-fuelling the lifeboat after the previous call we got a message to say that a Newquay fishing boat had become disabled after getting her propeller fouled by some floating fishing net. We launched and towed the vessel back to Newquay harbour. Once she was safely moored up we returned to station. On our way back we made another search of the area where the fisherman had gone missing but there was still no sign of him. Tuesday 3rd July 01.45 BST During the rescue at Mawgan Porth Falmouth Coastguard received another call about a woman in trouble in the surf at Constantine Bay. Newquay Inshore Lifeboat was tasked to go and search the area along with rescue 193 which had just returned from dropping the previous casualty at hospital. The Coastguards were short of spare units to send to the scene so we contacted the Boathouse and dispatched 6 of our crew equipped with parachute flares and torches to assist in the search. Once we came clear from the job at Mawgan Porth we proceeded to Constantine Bay to help with the search. Despite searching the whole area there was no sign of anyone in trouble. When further search teams from Polzeath and an RAF rescue helicopter arrived we were stood down to return to station at 02.40 BST. Monday 2nd July 17.04 BST Two persons were reported missing at Mawgan Porth, one of which was an RNLI Lifeguard. Arriving on scene we were tasked to organise a surface search using both Newquay Lifeboats and several Lifeguard units. The area was thoroughly searched but despite several possible sightings nothing was found. As darkness fell Falmouth decided to stand down the Lifeguard units and concentrate on monitoring the entrance to a cave where the people were thought to be. Two cliff rescue units lowered men into the cave entrance with torches but there was no sign of the missing people. It was then decided to wait until just before low water to attempt an entry into the cave. We patrolled up the coast shining our searchlights into other caves in case we had been standing by the wrong cave. As we returned towards the original cave we heard someone shouting for help. The searchlight picked up a man swimming towards the Lifeboat so we went and recovered him aboard. It turned out to be the missing Lifeguard so we treated him for hypothermia and got the details of where the other missing person could be found. Rescue 193 lowered his Winchman into the cave entrance. Once detached from the winch wire he went inside the cave and discovered the missing girl. She was suffering from severe hypothermia. He requested help to get her out from the cave so Newquay Inshore Lifeboat picked up 2 RNLI Lifeguards, from the beach at Mawgan Porth, who had volunteered to swim into the cave. The Lifeguards were dropped outside the surf line and safely made their way ashore. The girl and the Winchman were lifted into the Helicopter and as her condition was giving cause for concern the helicopter flew her straight to Treliske Hospital. Newquay Inshore Lifeboat then transferred the Lifeguard to a land ambulance, which was at Mawgan Porth. The 2 lifeguards still in the cave entrance asked us to try and recover them, as they did not want to try and swim out through the surf. Owing to weather conditions this would have been impossible so Newquay cliff rescue team sent a man down to recover them up the cliff. Monday 25th June 11.20 BST We launched to a yacht that was taking water and in danger of sinking. She had lost her foresail and was using her engine to keep herself head to sea. Due to the weather conditions the skipper decided to abandon the vessel and come aboard the Lifeboat so we could try and tow the empty yacht into Padstow harbour. We went alongside and put 2 of our crew aboard to aid with evacuation and to try and secure a tow. The towrope was secured but it was too dangerous to get the yacht’s crew off. A helicopter was requested to take off the yacht’s crew and the two Lifeboat crewmen, one of which had been injured whilst boarding the yacht. Once the yacht was empty we towed her into Padstow and berthed her alongside into the care of the Harbour Authorities. Monday 25th June 14.45 BST Leaving the harbour to return to the boathouse we were asked by the Coastguard and Harbour Authorities to investigate a yacht, which was anchored in a dangerous position under Stepper Point. The yacht appeared to be further in than when we had passed it earlier. Her position amongst the shellfish store cage moorings, and the sea conditions in the shallow water, made the approach difficult. Once alongside we enquired whether the skipper wished to leave his vessel as we thought this was the safest option open to him. He agreed so we closed alongside and attempted to take him off. During the transfer the skipper swallowed a lot of seawater and aggravated a previous back injury. Conditions were too bad to risk trying to cross the bar on the ebbing tide or landing the man at the boathouse so a request was made for helicopter evacuation. The rescue helicopter was busy on another incident, another one could be made available but it would take at least 40 mins. We proceeded back towards the boathouse to assess conditions for trying to land the man on the slipway. Shortly afterwards the helicopter became available again as the St Ives Inshore Lifeboat had dealt with the other incident. We briefed the diver as to the man's injuries and he decided to stretcher him off in case his back injury was aggravated. The man agreed to this and a stretcher was sent aboard using a high-line. The man was secured in the stretcher and lifted off. He was taken to Treliske Hospital for examination. We continued on to the boathouse to assess the conditions for recovery. Monday 25th June 16.42 BST Whilst returning to the boathouse to assess recovery conditions we were tasked, following several 999 calls, to a yacht aground at Trebetherick point on the eastern side of the estuary. The Coastguards suspected that it was the yacht from which we had previously rescued the sole occupant but they were unsure and required us to investigate. Arriving at the back of the bar the yacht was clearly visible well aground on the rocks clear of the water. In the prevailing conditions we could not close the yachts position. We suggested to the coastguard that they sent the cliff rescue team to investigate. We stood by outside the bar until it was confirmed as being the yacht, which we had previously been to. We then returned to the boathouse to assess the conditions. Conditions were too bad to attempt a recovery so at 22.30 we crossed the bar and proceeded to the harbour where the lifeboat was refueled and put on the pool mooring. We finally came ashore at 23.35. The Lifeboat was recovered back on to the slipway the next day when conditions improved. Monday 11th June 21.45 BST We launched on service to an injured crewman, with burns to the face, aboard the survey vessel Ile De Brehat 16 Miles NW of Trevose. On route contact with the vessel was made and it was reported that the crewman had been treated on board but would still need to be checked out in hospital. The crewman was able to climb down a rope ladder and get aboard the Lifeboat with no assistance. Once onboard he was seated in the Wheelhouse and checked over by the Mechanic and reassured on the trip back to station. The injured crewman was transferred to the crew room to await a taxi to take him to hospital. Saturday 9^th June 13.38 BST A yacht on passage to St Ives became entangled in a buoy rope just off Trevose Head. The Coastguard put out a broadcast to any vessels in the area but none replied. We launched and freed the vessel then took her in tow to our mooring at the boathouse where a passing dive boat offered to clear the yacht’s propeller. Once the skipper was satisfied that his engine was operating normally he continued on his passage. Saturday 26^th May 22.13 BST Two boys had left Trevone at 20.00 to go fishing in a small inflatable. When at 22.00 they had not returned their mother contacted the Coastguard who in turn requested us to launch to search for them. As we reached Trevone Bay we fired two parachute flares to illuminate the area but at almost the same time the boys returned to the beach safe and well Wednesday 16^th May 12.10 BST A Newlyn fishing vessel suffered engine failure while off Cambeak. As there was no other vessel in the area capable of assisting we launched and towed her to Padstow. Wednesday 9^th May 17.10 BST Whilst preparing to go on exercise we received a call from the Coastguard to go and stand by a yacht, which was having problems with the weather. She was making her way towards Padstow but was unsure if her fuel supply would last. We escorted her into the shelter of Stepper Point where one of our crew went onboard to asses the situation. When he was happy that the yacht was safe we continued in over the bar and secured her to our mooring in the pool. Sunday 6^th May, 18.20 BST We launched to go the assistance of a yacht, which had suffered engine failure and was making no progress in the worsening weather. Once on scene two of our crew went aboard the yacht to help with rigging the tow and once she was secured we towed her to Padstow Monday 30^th April, 02.55 BST A yacht on passage to Padstow became tangled up in a buoy rope and was unable to get free. We were asked to launch and assist them to get clear. The yacht was only a short distance from the boathouse and the weather was calm. The Y-boat was deployed to cut the ropes and once the yacht was free we were able to tow her into Padstow. Tuesday 17^th April 13.05 BST The Operations Manager of Newquay Lifeboat asked us to launch and assist with re-floating a local fishing boat. The vessel had dragged her anchor and gone ashore just outside the harbour. We proceeded towards Newquay but whilst on the way we were re-called as another local fishing boat had managed to tow her off. Friday 26^th January 11.30 GMT A Newquay fishing boat had become entangled in an old trawl net, which had disabled its propeller and rudder. The skipper had no means of clearing the net and wires so we launched to assist him. Arriving on scene we passed our wire cutters that enabled the skipper to cut a lot of the trawl away. We recovered the floating net aboard the Lifeboat then proceeded to tow the vessel back to Newquay harbour. The Northerly wind made the entrance to Newquay difficult so one of the local boats came out and stood-by as we towed the boat in. Luckily all went well and we put him safely alongside before returning to the boathouse.