Fowey RNLI’s double rescue as paddleboarders swept out

You are out on a paddleboard on a gusty day, and the wind that felt like nothing on the way out suddenly feels like everything on the way back. That was the situation for four people on three paddleboards off Lantivet Bay on Saturday 15 August, and it took two lifeboats to bring them all in safely.

Two boats, two locations, one afternoon

Fowey RNLI were tasked at 3.25pm to launch both their D class and Atlantic 85 lifeboats to assist the four casualties, who were spread across three boards to the east of Fowey. Two of the boards were around a mile offshore and were struggling to get back to the beach in a gusty northerly wind.

The volunteer crew launched the Atlantic 85 first, at 3.37pm, and reached the two offshore casualties by 3.45pm. They towed them safely back to the beach.

The D class lifeboat followed, launching at 3.42pm and arriving at the second location, where two people shared one paddleboard, at 3.55pm. By then those two were already close to the beach and didn’t need any assistance.

The video below shows Fowey’s D class heading out of the harbour, past St Catherine’s Castle, on a routine launch.

Why paddleboarders keep needing rescuing

Fowey’s lifeboats get called out to paddleboarders on a regular basis, especially once the weather warms up. It’s rarely recklessness. It’s usually a wind that felt manageable heading out and turned into hard work heading back.

An offshore wind is the one to watch. It can carry a board out with almost no effort at all, then tire a paddler out fast on the return leg, because now they’re fighting it the whole way. Two of Saturday’s four casualties found exactly that a mile off Lantivet Bay.

What to check before you paddle

The RNLI‘s advice for anyone heading out on a paddleboard:

• Always check the weather forecast and tide times before you launch
• Avoid offshore winds, which will tire you out quickly on the way back
• Always wear a personal flotation device
• Carry a means of calling for help
• Wear a leash and hold onto your board, so it can help keep you afloat if you get into trouble

📷Credit: Fowey RNLI