Launches 2006

Sunday 31st December
A very sad call to search for a man washed off the rocks at Trevone. We managed to get the boat away in 9 mins and were on scene within 15 mins but unfortunately there was no sign of the man. A helicopter was also searching but when it got dark the search was reluctantly called off.

Wednesday 20th December
An early call on a lovely clear frosty morning to go to the aid of a motor cruiser that had become entangled in some floating ropes and was fast to the bottom. She was 35 miles off but when we arrived at her reported position there was nobody there. She had drifted 6 miles to the North East! Once we got to her we transferred James Chown to assess the situation and used the Y-boat to look around the stern of the boat for rope. A towrope was passed and we commenced the long tow back to Padstow. After a short time the skipper reported that the obstruction had come free so we let go the tow and stood by while he tried the engines. All seemed to be ok so we recovered James aboard then stood by for a further 30 mins to make sure all was well. Once they were happy we left them to continue their passage to Dartmouth and we returned to station.

Thursday October 12th
An elderly man had gone missing, in the Bude area, whilst out walking his 3 dogs. The boat was launched at 23.25 with Deputy 2nd Coxswain James Chown in charge, as I was away on holiday and Pip was on relief at Appledore Lifeboat Station. A thorough search was made along the shore but nothing was found. The search was called off when the man turned up safely ashore. Sunday October 8th We had not long returned from a Sunday morning exercise. The boat had been washed down and we were on the way home when we were called to assist a small yacht that had got into difficulties in the strong South Easterly wind. She was being blown further out to sea, as her engine was not powerful enough to cope with the weather. We took her in tow and got her safely up to the harbour.

Monday September 18th
The day after the official naming of the lifeboat and the opening of the station we were due to a live launch on the Spotlight news. Unfortunately for them we had a call at 17.10 to go to a yacht that was in difficulties off Tintagel Head. The yacht's crew were suffering from fatigue and their engine had failed due to blocked fuel filters. Once again the y-boat was used to transfer Deputy 2nd Coxswain James Chown and crewman Richard Jay to assist the yacht's crew. We then towed them into Padstow and put them on the pool mooring.

Friday August 25th
Another case of a yacht disabled by debris floating in the sea. This one wasn't too far off and the 'Jubilee Queen' took her in tow until we arrived. We took over the tow just inside Pentire Point and put the yacht on our mooring in the pool.

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday 13th August 2006

Little Spirit's first mission

On Sunday August 13th the new boathouse was open to the public for the first time A record number of people came along to see the boathouse and the new lifeboat 'Spirit of Padstow'.  The lifeboat launched at 15.30 to cheers from the watching crowd and further applause and cheers when she later recovered up the slipway. At 18.30 with all quiet and the lifeboat safely in the boathouse the lights were switched off and everyone went home after a very busy day. 20.10 and their pagers were alerting the crew to a launch request from Falmouth Coastguard. St Merryn Coastguard had been alerted to a possible dead body seen floating in the sea at Warren Cove just south of Treyarnon Bay.  By 20.20 the lifeboat was in the water and heading for the area. When they arrived on scene they were directed towards the cove by the coastguards where they could see the suspected body floating. The Coxswain decided to use 'Little Spirit' to help with the search. Crewmembers  Richard Pitman and Ross McBurnie had already put on dry suits and were soon being launched  in the Y boat from the stern of the Padstow Lifeboat. Having located the object in the water they soon realised that it was not a body as first thought but a  large amount of fishing netting. They pulled the netting onboard and returned 'Little Spirit' to the lifeboat before making their way back to station.  A case of good intent and fortunately no lives lost.

 

Little Spirit - In the stern compartment of the Tamar lifeboat is a 3.5 metre inflatable Y boat with an outboard engine.  This enables the crew to get closer to the shoreline where it might not be possible for the big boat to go

Saturday 5th August 2006

'Spirit of Padstow' joins Newquay lifeboat twice in 24 hours 

Saturday August 5th everyone at the station was preparing the new RNLI Tamar class lifeboat to go on her first public relations outing to Newquay for their Lifeboat Day on Sunday.

At 19.23 the call came for the Newquay Atlantic lifeboat to launch to assist a broken down motor cruiser. The 12.6m traditionally built boat, with three persons onboard, had suffered engine failure 2 miles west of the Madrips, Holywell Bay.

Due to the size of the vessel, Falmouth coastguard were unsure if the Atlantic lifeboat would be able to tow the casualty for any distance but felt it wise to have a lifeboat on scene as soon as possible.

On arriving alongside the stricken vessel the Newquay Helmsman deemed the casualty to be too large for the Atlantic to tow the 11 nautical miles back to Newquay and as such requested the assistance of an All Weather Lifeboat. Although St Ives harbour was closer the Coastguard was concerned over the weather forecast and for safety decided to page the Padstow lifeboat requesting that they launch to assist.

Spirit of Padstow was duly launched to her first service call from Padstow.

She made her way to rendezvous with the casualty and the Newquay lifeboat. Once on scene she took over the tow and brought the vessel safely back to the Padstow lifeboat mooring in the Pool.

Once they were sure that all was well aboard the motor cruiser they returned to station arriving back at 00.30am on Sunday morning. The boat was refuelled and given a wash down before the crew went home.

By 10am that morning they were all back again and the Spirit of Padstow was launched and headed back to Newquay where she took part in their Lifeboat Day as planned

Friday 14th July 2006

First Service Call for the 'Spirit of Padstow'

On Friday July 14th members of the Padstow lifeboat crew were coming to the end of four days of familiarisation training aboard the new Tamar lifeboat.

They were just outside Milford Haven when the call came through that a 19ft Cornish Shrimper yacht had become entangled with plastic sheeting debris. The debris had fouled her propeller and this coupled with the heavy weather meant that her four crew were unable to make way under sail.

Padstow's Deputy 2nd Coxswain, James Chown, immediately headed for the stricken yacht.

Once alongside he put crewmembers Steve Conium and Tom Norfolk aboard the yacht to prepare a towline. All safely secured the casualty was then towed into Milford Haven and safely berthed.

Spirit of Padstow had undertaken her first service call, albeit in 'foreign waters' and she is now officially 'on station' at Padstow ready to help those who need her.

The James Burrough has now left Padstow and been returned to Poole by members of the Padstow crew. From there she will be going to China to continue her tradition of lifesaving for those at sea.

 

 

Wednesday 12th July 2006

Final mission for the 'James Burrough'

Wednesday July 12th at 8.30pm the RNLI Tyne Class lifeboat 'James Burrough' was called out to what was to be her last service call from Padstow.

A 10 metre yacht on its way from Alicante to South Wales had fouled her propeller. The wind was too light for her to make her way into Padstow unaided at low water and as such she requested a tow.

The Padstow lifeboat was alongside within 30 minutes and safely took her up the estuary to the lifeboat mooring in the pool. They then arranged for the harbour staff to take her up to the quay on the next high tide.

All safely done the crew returned to station by 11pm not realising that this would be their final 'shout' aboard the lifeboat that had served the Padstow station since December 18th 1984.

 

 

Friday 7th July 2006

Search for missing Padstow fisherman

Shortly after 3am on Friday July 7th the Lifeboat Operations Manager received a phone call from Falmouth Coastguard concerning a missing fisherman.

Devon & Cornwall police had been alerted to the fact that a fisherman had not returned home and there were concerns that he may have fallen overboard from his boat which was moored on the outer harbour wall. The coastguards had tasked the Rock ILB at 2.46am but they now felt that as the fisherman had been missing for a few hours the Padstow lifeboat was required to widen the search.

By 3.30am the James Burrough had launched and commenced searching from Stepper Point towards Padstow Harbour where they met up with the Rock ILB.  As nothing had been found they then started to search the eastern shore down to Daymer Bay.

At 4.30am the call came through that the man had been found safe ashore and as such the James Burrough returned to station arriving back at just after 5am.

 

 

Saturday 24th June 2006

At  just after 5am the lifeboat crew were out to help a 20 metre ex-motor fishing vessel that had reported power and steering failure just off Stepper Point.

The boat had 3 persons aboard and the previous evening had been helped by staff at Padstow Harbour after it she ran aground on the sand bar outside the harbour.

The Padstow Lifeboat was soon alongside the casualty and crewmembers Kevin Briggs and Ian Kitto went aboard her. They organised the tow rope from the lifeboat and with her safely attached the 'James Burrough' proceeded the tow into Padstow Harbour.

 The skipper of the 'Havilah', pictured on the right below stated
 "We had broken our rudder and lost steering. We were in a real state and in danger of sinking" Another of the crew said "We would certainly have drowned if it hadn't been for the Padstow Lifeboat"

 Once the casualty was safely moored up the lifeboat returned to station arriving back at 8am. 

(Our thanks to the Havilah crew giving permission for their quotes and photograph to be published)

 

 

18th June 2006 

On June 18th just before 11pm the propeller on a 30 foot yacht became entangled with ropes. Her skipper put up his sails and made his way towards Padstow.  He contacted Falmouth Coastguard to notify them of his situation and told them that he had concerns over accessing the harbour under sail only. Falmouth contacted the Lifeboat Operations Manager, Michael Walker, and it was decided to launch the Padstow Lifeboat to provide a safety escort into the harbour. Within 10 minutes of launching the lifeboat was with the casualty and the skipper said that he would feel safer if he could be towed into harbour. The lifeboat passed a tow rope and took the yacht into the harbour where she was safely berthed alongside the wall.  The James Burrough, 'escort duty' done returned to station arriving back at 01.30

 

8th June 2006

On June 8th at 11.30am we were alerted to the fact that an 11metre yacht had become entangled with crab ropes one and a half miles west off Trevose Head.

By just after 12 noon the Padstow lifeboat was alongside the casualty and crewmember James Chown went aboard the yacht and managed to cut her free.  Once this had been done the coxswain of the day, Richard Pitman, took the yacht in tow and proceeded back to Padstow Harbour.

Another possible incident averted and everyone safe, they returned to the station arriving back at 14.16

  

4th June 2006 At 4am on a foggy 4th of June we were alerted to a yacht 14 miles north off Pentire whose skipper was suffering from pains in his chest. The yacht had also reported engine failure and was drifting.  Visibility was poor but the sea was relatively calm and using the radar the lifeboat located the casualty just after 5am.  Once alongside the Coxswain, Alan Tarby, and 2nd Coxswain, Edward Hicks, went aboard the yacht to ascertain the condition of her skipper. They decided to administer oxygen and they were then able to move him across onto the Padstow lifeboat and from there he was airlifted by a helicopter from RAF Chivenor and taken to hospital. Once the skipper was safely on his way to the hospital the crew turned their attention to the stricken yacht. A tow rope was passed and the lifeboat proceeded back to Padstow where the vessel was safely moored alongside the wall.  Their services no longer required the crew returned to station arriving back at 9.30am. A night's sleep lost by the crew and shore helpers but fortunately no lives lost. The skipper made a full recovery, a successful mission.

 

28th May  2006

Just after 9.30 in the morning we were summoned to help a 12 meter fishing boat that had a fouled propeller. The casualty was off St Agnes and when we reached her at 10.30 the Newquay lifeboat was alongside her.

A tow rope was passed and as the vessel had come from Newquay we towed her back to her mooring just off Newquay Harbour. A local diving boat had heard of her plight and went alongside to clear the propeller.

Knowing that all was now well the Padstow lifeboat returned to station arriving back at 2pm.

 

Sunday 26th February 2006

Just after 5 am on Sunday 26th February the crew were awoken from their slumbers by the sound of their pagers going off.

Everyone rushed out to the boathouse to find that the call was to their old friend the 20 metre crabber who had lost her steering in the estuary and had run aground on the beach between Rock and Daymer Bay. One of the crew on the crabber had fallen whilst trying to slip the anchor out and had a bad cut to his leg. Rock ILB was launched and came out to the casualty to take the injured man to Padstow where an ambulance was waiting to transport him to Treliske Hospital for treatment. The lifeboat crew reset the casualty's anchor and checked that all their sea cocks and fuel cocks had been turned off…..they also confirmed that there was no fuel leakage. Nothing more could be done to assist the stricken vessel except wait for the tide to come in and float her off again. If further assistance was necessary then the skipper would let Falmouth Coastguards know.  

 

Sunday 26th February 2006

Just after 1.30pm that second call came, the crabber was apparently taking in water and Padstow Lifeboat launched to stand by the casualty.

Once alongside two crewmembers were put aboard the casualty with a pump to control the incoming water. The skipper reported that the water level was now fine and that he was looking at the steering problem.  Tow ropes were passed aboard and as she came afloat the lifeboat commenced the tow back towards Padstow.  Rock ILB maintained a watch from the stern and she was safely moored back in Padstow Harbour at just before 4pm.

 

 

22nd February 2006 

It was just after four o'clock in the afternoon of February 22nd when the crew were paged to go to the aid of a 20 metre crabber which had fuel problems with her main engine. She was 30 miles north of Trevose Head some ninety minutes away.

Meanwhile the naval warship HMS Portland, having been alerted to her plight, was making her way to the casualty and would stand by the crabber until we arrived.

It was very cold and the sea was quite rough. It was decided to put two tow ropes aboard the vessel and try to tow her back to Padstow. Progress was slow some 3 knots only, but as the lifeboat and her casualty closed the land they were able to increase speed to 4 knots.

With a very wet and very cold crew they reached Padstow at just after 4 am the next morning. Once the casualty was safely moored up the lifeboat returned to station some twelve hours after launching.  

 

 

14th February 2006 

Just after one o'clock on February 14th the James Burrough was summoned to assist a landing craft that had gone aground alongside the new boathouse. The casualty had suffered hydraulic & engine failure and was broadside to the beach.

The lifeboat launched and had soon put ropes aboard the landing craft and pulled her clear of the beach. It transpired that the vessel had a cable jammed round its rudder but once this was cleared they were happy to make their own way back to Padstow.

Following her 30 minute dip in the sea the crew then set about their usual task of giving the lifeboat her wash down and dry off before they all set off back home.

 

 

27th January 2006

The Padstow RNLI lifeboat, James Burrough, launched at 21:10 hrs on Friday 27th January to assist ex-Padstow fishing vessel, Diadem. The casualty's gear box had failed.

The Diadem was built in Scotland in 1965 and had been bought by her current owner, who is from London, and was intending the take her to Rochester, Kent. There he planned to convert the Diadem into a houseboat. There were three persons onboard when, after just having passed Trevose Head, her gearbox failed. Local boat Helen Jane II  was nearby and went to her assistance.  Diadem's skipper decided that he needed help from the lifeboat to get back into Padstow and as such he contacted Falmouth Coastguard and asked for assistance.

In true winter conditions, the Padstow lifeboat launched  and took up the tow 2 miles west of Trevose Head. Unfortunately the state of the tide meant the lifeboat and casualty were unable to proceed over the Doom Bar. The lifeboat waited at the mouth of the estuary for over two hours until conditions allowed the casualty to be towed safely over the Bar and back to Padstow Harbour.

  The James Burrough arrived back at the lifeboat station at 03:00 hrs.

Interviewed the following day the owner stated that:
"The worst part was waiting at the mouth of the estuary. "

When asked how he felt being safely back in Padstow he said

"Tired but very grateful for all the help that the Padstow Lifeboat gave me, I will certainly be sending them a donation, it is the least I can do"

Three of the Padstow Lifeboat crew have served on the Diadem when she was a netter working out of Padstow. One of them said
 "Ask anyone who has worked on her and they will say that she is a good sea boat"