At 06:10 while Falmouths Inshore Lifeboat was escorting the Falmouth All Weather Lifeboat and its tow, the 27m Luxury Motor Yacht Grand Lady into Falmouth Inner Harbour, one of the Fastnet yachts that had been anchored in the harbour was observed to be very close to Trefusis Point.

The Inshore Lifeboat was dispatched to investigate and having woken the crew a towline was secured to hold the vessel off the rocks until they could start their engine and recover their anchor. By 06:18 the yacht was clear of the rocks and underway but it soon became apparent that some loose rope, which had been attached to the anchor, had fouled the yacht propeller.

The skipper of the yacht agreed to use his foresail to sail out into the Carrick Roads while the Inshore Lifeboat returned to assist the All Weather Lifeboat with berthing the Grand Lady. Once this was complete the Inshore Lifeboat returned to the Xara and at 06:38 took the yacht in tow, placing her alongside at Port Pendennis Marina at 06:50. The Inshore Lifeboat then headed back over to St Mawes to recover the Rigid Inflatable Tender to the Grand Lady. (See separate service report)

The 36ft Yacht Xara with seven people onboard had been competing in the Fastnet Race, and had initially sort shelter in Fowey Harbour due to adverse weather conditions, before rejoining the race but had once again had to take shelter, this time dropping her anchor in Falmouth Harbour in the early hours. As the wind had increased the yacht had dragged its anchor and had it not been for the timely intervention of the lifeboat crew, preventing the yacht from going on Trefusis Point the yacht and its crew would have been in a much more serious predicament.

An Inshore Lifeboat Service

 

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