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Boat: All Weather Lifeboat
Crew: Mark Pollard (Coxswain), Peter Wood, David Proud, Dave Nicoll, Carl Beardmore, Andy Jenkins, Tom Bird
Location: 5 miles South of Dodman Point
Shout Date: 02/11/2005 (All day)
Weather:SSW 9-10 gusting 11, Very Rough Sea, Good Visibility, Heavy Squalls

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At 23:35 Falmouth Coastguard requested that Falmouth All Weather be launched to standby the Merchant Vessel Galina (32m / 257GRT) with eight persons onboard which had lost all power 5.2 miles SSE of Dodman Point and was in danger of being driven ashore in storm force conditions. The Fowey Lifeboat and the Coastguard Emergency Towing Vessel Anglian Princess were also tasked to assist. The ETV Anglian Princess was at the time anchored in Mounts Bay.

The All Weather Lifeboat left its berth at 23:47 and made best possible speed in the prevailing conditions towards the casualty arriving on scene off the Dodman at 00:27. By this time the vessel was 4.3 miles off Dodman Point with 6-8m seas and winds gusting to 55 knots. The Falmouth lifeboat stood by the vessel monitoring its drift, and was also joined by the Fowey Lifeboat, which arrived on scene at 00:45.

At 00:55 it was assessed that the MV Galina was only 3.7 miles offshore with a drift of 1.8 knots. The estimated time of arrival of the ETV Anglian Princess was 02:30, so action had to be taken to try and reduce the drift. It was decided that the Falmouth Lifeboat should put a line onboard the MV Galina to attempt to slow the vessels drift. Once the crew of the lifeboat had prepared the towline the lifeboat was brought in close under the MV Galinas bow at 01:09 for the first of a number passes, the tow line finally being connected at 01:42.

The lifeboat then slowly extended the tow and set a south easterly course, managing to maintain a speed of one knot against the very rough conditions with breaking seas which by this time were estimated to be reaching in excess of 8-10m at times.

At 02:35 the ETV Anglian Princess arrived on scene and once her master had assessed the situation it was agreed at 02:43 that the MV Galina should release the lifeboats towline to allow the ETV Anglian Princess to take up a position to pass the MV Galina their towline.

The crew of the MV Galina finally managed to let go of the lifeboats tow line at 02:57 and the slow process of recovering the 220m tow line onto the lifeboat began, a task, which took 14 minutes to complete. Once the tow line was onboard the lifeboat returned to join the Fowey Lifeboat standing by the MV Galina while the ETV Anglian Princess made several attempts to transfer a tow line between the two vessels. At 03:35 the line from the MV Galina was finally made fast onboard the ETV Anglian Princess and the tow commenced. Fowey lifeboat was then released to return to station but at 03:44 the tow line parted and Fowey Lifeboat was asked to return to join Falmouth Lifeboat, which was standing by the MV Galina as attempts were made to reconnect a tow.

By 04:00 MV Galina was with in 2 miles of the shore and following discussions with the Coastguard, it was agreed that if the towline was not reconnected by 04:20, Falmouth lifeboat should start to take off the crew of the MV Galina. A Rescue Helicopter from RNAS Culdrose was also tasked to assist if required.

At 04:03 the ETV Anglian Princess managed to pass a tow line to the MV Galina which was made fast. Once the towline had been extended and progress was being made the Fowey Lifeboat was again released at 04:20. Falmouth Lifeboat remaining to escort the tug and tow back towards Falmouth.

The MV Galina reported at 04:57 that she had managed to restart her engine and was happy to proceed under her own power, and at 05:12 the tow was released and both vessels proceeded southwards to clear Dodman Point. Shortly afterwards the Falmouth lifeboat was released to return to station while the ETV Anglian Princess escorted the MV Galina back towards Falmouth.

Once clear of Dodman Point the lifeboat set course back to Falmouth, a journey that took over an hour in very heavy seas.

The All Weather Lifeboat was back alongside its pontoon berth by 06:34, where it was ready for service by 07:00.