Offshore Lifeboat Call

Falmouth Offshore Lifeboat was launched at 16:15 to go to the assistance of the Sailing Boat "Sheila" with two persons onboard which was taking water 16 miles South East of Falmouth. A helicopter from RNAS Culdrose was also scrambled to assist.

The Offshore Lifeboat made best possible speed in the Heavy Fog, with visibility reduced to 50m at times. The Customs Cutter "Searcher" which was also in the area had responded to the vessel's distress call, and arrived on scene shortly after the two crew had taken to their liferaft. They recovered the two from the liferaft and tried to pump out the boat, but the boat eventually sank. The Lifeboat arrived on scene shortly afterwards and the two casualties and their liferaft were transferred to the lifeboat.

At 17:08 the Lifeboat was diverted to another casualty, a fire onboard the Motor Boat "Ian Jacob", 3 miles East of Falmouth.

Coxswain :Alan Barnes.
Crew :Snowy Angove, John Murray, David Proud, Mark Pollard Alister Heane, Marc Thomas.
Weather :SSE 3, Slight Sea, Fog (50m max), Sunny with Fog.