Three Shouts in Two Days for Fowey RNLI Volunteers

Fowey RNLI volunteers had a busy weekend after being tasked to three separate incidents across Saturday 14th March and Sunday 15th March.

The call-outs involved assisting multiple yachts, towing vessels to safety and supporting other lifeboat crews operating in and around Fowey harbour.

Saturday Morning: Yacht Assisted South of Fowey

On Saturday 14th March, Falmouth Coastguard tasked Fowey’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat to assist a 47-foot yacht located 12 miles south of Fowey harbour.

The lifeboat launched at 10:39am and arrived on scene at 11:04am. Border Force were already present, and Plymouth’s all-weather lifeboat had also been tasked.

Border Force staff were on board the yacht, so Fowey’s Atlantic stood off while the situation developed. When the Plymouth lifeboat arrived, they took the casualty vessel under tow, with the Fowey Atlantic escorting both the lifeboat and yacht back towards Fowey.

At 11:56am, the Fowey crew were tasked to another incident and left the yacht to continue its tow back to Fowey with the Plymouth lifeboat.

D Class Launch to Assist in Harbour

Following a request from the Fowey harbour master, Falmouth Coastguard asked for the launch of Fowey’s D Class lifeboat to provide the Plymouth crew with local knowledge of Fowey harbour.

The D Class lifeboat launched at 12:47pm and met the Plymouth lifeboat and the yacht under tow at 1:10pm.

One of Fowey’s crew transferred to the Plymouth lifeboat to provide a local knowledge briefing and pilotage into the harbour. The D Class lifeboat then followed both vessels into Fowey harbour, where the yacht was moored at Berrills yard pontoon.

Second Saturday Call-Out for Stranded Yacht

Earlier that afternoon, during the second shout of the day, Falmouth Coastguard tasked Fowey’s volunteer crew to assist a Merry Fisher yacht that had suffered machinery failure, including a detached prop shaft and possible water ingress.

The crew arrived on scene at 12:15pm.

An investigation found no water ingress, but as there was potential for water to enter the vessel, it needed to be towed to a safe location where it could be lifted out of the water.

Falmouth was chosen as the most suitable location, and Falmouth lifeboat was requested to assist with the tow. The Falmouth crew arrived and took over the tow at 1:37pm, allowing the Fowey lifeboat to be released.

Sunday Training Exercise Turns Into Another Rescue

On Sunday 15th March, while Fowey’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat crew were carrying out a routine Sunday morning training exercise, Falmouth Coastguard tasked them to assist another 47-foot yacht with a suspected fire on board.

The lifeboat arrived on scene at 11:35am and assessed the situation.

The casualty vessel was asked to return to Fowey, but due to weather conditions in the harbour and the yacht having no engine, assistance was required to manoeuvre safely.

Falmouth lifeboat was requested to assist. When they arrived, both lifeboats escorted the yacht under sail into Fowey harbour, where it was manoeuvred and moored at Berrills yard pontoon.

📷Fowey's Atlantic 85 lifeboat setting on the first shout of the weekend - Credit: Fowey RNLI