Kynance Cove and Chapel Rock: Penlee RNLI’s double rescue

Two separate call-outs on two different stretches of Cornish coast kept Penlee RNLI’s volunteer crews at sea for the best part of an afternoon, and gave a crowd of lifeboat weekend visitors a front-row seat to the real thing.

Cut off by the tide at Kynance Cove

Falmouth Coastguard tasked Penlee RNLI at 4pm on Saturday 29 August to help people cut off by the tide at Kynance Cove. Both of the station’s lifeboats were sent out: the all-weather Severn class Ivan Ellen, under the command of Coxswain Amy Smith and Mechanic Andrew Wood with a crew of RNLI volunteers, and the inshore Atlantic 85 Mollie and Ivor Dent, under the command of Will Treneer and two further RNLI volunteers.

At Kynance Cove the inshore lifeboat was joined by the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 924. The casualties were reported to have made it safely to the top of the cliff.

📷Credit: RNLI/Philip Monckton

Re-tasked to Chapel Rock

Ivan Ellen was re-tasked while still en route, after a report came in of a further five people cut off by the tide at Chapel Rock. On arrival the crew launched the Y-boat, the small inflatable that launches from the top of the all-weather lifeboat, but the Coastguard helicopter became the safest option for getting everyone off the rocks. It winched all five to safety and transferred them to Coastguard teams waiting on shore.

📷Credit: RNLI/Philip Monckton

Back to Newlyn, ready for the next shout

With both incidents resolved, Ivan Ellen and Mollie and Ivor Dent were stood down and returned to Newlyn, where they were prepared for whatever call came next.

An audience for the real thing

The double call-out fell right in the middle of Penlee RNLI’s annual lifeboat weekend, so visitors on scene would have watched the crews respond to the Coastguard’s requests as they actually happen, rather than in a demonstration. The open weekend continues today, Sunday 30 August, with the public invited along to board the lifeboat and meet the crews behind it.