At 13:42 Falmouth Coastguard requested that Falmouth Inshore Lifeboat be launched following a VHF call reporting a yachts tender and its two occupants missing. They had left the yacht to recover an object, which had been blown into the water, but in the gale force conditions had blown them down the harbour and they had last been seen being blown out into the Carrick Roads. The harbour launch had also been alerted and had made an initial search of the area but could not locate the dinghy.

The Inshore Lifeboat launched from her slipway at 13:47 and arrived on scene off the East Narrow Buoy at 13:52 where they met up with the Harbour Launch Killigrew. There was considerable concern for the well being of the casualties as the sea state in the Carrick Roads was poor and the 8ft inflatable dinghy only had a small seagull outboard. Both boats commenced a search up wind from St Mawes Castle back towards Falmouth Docks. At 14:02 further information was obtained from the Docks that an inflatable dinghy had been seen in the Docks Basin so a search of this area was commenced. Following further enquires it was found that the dinghy and its occupants had managed to get ashore on the rock armour on the Northern Arm of the Docks and despite being scared and exhausted they were safe, so at 14:16 the Inshore Lifeboat was released to return to station.

The Inshore Lifeboat was back on its slipway by 14:25 where it was refuelled, rehoused and was ready for service by 14:45.

The couple in the dinghy had a lucky escape, as conditions in the Carrick Roads had been poor and could have easily caused the inflatable dinghy to capsize, had they not managed to make it ashore in the docks.

An Inshore Lifeboat Service

 

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