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Boat: All Weather Lifeboat
Crew: John Blakeston (Coxswain), David Proud, Dave Nicoll, Phil Rogers, Andy Jenkin, Tom Bird, Tom Napper, Joe Sabien
Location: Off St Mawes Castle
Shout Date: 26/05/2008 (All day)
Weather:E 8, Rough Sea & Moderate Swell, Good Visibility, Overcast with Rain

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At 16:12 Falmouth Coastguard requested that Falmouth All Weather Lifeboat be launched to assist the 65ft Motor Fishing Vessel Chalutier with one person onboard, which had requested assistance after it started to drag its anchors in adverse weather conditions while anchored off St Mawes Castle. The Falmouth Coastguard Mobile was also requested to proceed to monitor the situation from Pendennis Point.

Falmouth All Weather Lifeboat left its pontoon berth at 16:22 and headed over to St Mawes arriving on scene at 16:28. Two lifeboat men were put onboard the vessel, and once they had assessed the situation a towline was passed and made secure by 16:43. The Lifeboat then took up the weight on the towline and held the vessel head to wind while the crew tried to recover the main anchor and release the others. This was not an easy process in the prevailing conditions requiring considerable skill by the Coxswain and hard work by his crew both on the lifeboat and the casualty. Eventually at 17:36 the vessel was free and was taken in tow back towards Falmouth.

At 18:08 the vessel was safely moored alongside one of the barges in Falmouth Docks, as conditions prevented it from returning to its mooring in the Inner harbour, the lifeboat being then released to return to station.

The All Weather Lifeboat was back alongside its pontoon berth by 18:20. The lifeboat was then refuelled, and was ready for service by 18:35.

The Charlutier is a converted French Trawler, which was built in Cherbourg in 1946 and is now used as a houseboat. It had been anchored off St Mawes when the weather conditions had suddenly deteriorated causing it to drag its main anchor. Despite deploying two other kedge anchors the boat was in danger of dragging onto the rocks below St Mawes Castle so the single-handed skipper wisely requested assistance.