At 23:38 Falmouth Coastguard requested that the Falmouth Inshore Lifeboat be again launched following a report of a missing sailor in his inflatable dinghy in the Helford River. Porthoustock Coastguard Mobile was also tasked to assist.

The Inshore Lifeboat launched from her slipway at 23:44 and headed across Falmouth Bay to the entrance of the Helford River where a search was commenced at 23:52 working up the river. At 23:47 Falmouth Coastguard also decided in view of the time that the person had been missing that the Falmouth All Weather Lifeboat should also assist, the lifeboat launching at 23:53.

At 00:07 the coastguard were advised that the sailor was believed to have been located and the Inshore Lifeboat was tasked to proceed and confirm this was correct. At 00:15 the inshore lifeboat was alongside the yacht Polbream and confirmed that everyone had been located safe and well, and having obtained details was released to return to station at 00:25.

The Inshore Lifeboat was back on its slipway by 00:40 where it was refuelled, rehoused and was ready for service by 00:55.

The six people from the yacht Polbream had gone ashore at Helford Village for the evening. Because their inflatable could only carry four people at a time one crewman had taken the first group back to the yacht and had been returning to the shore when he lost his bearings and missed the landing point in the dark. When he did not return the party ashore had contacted the yacht and then sensibly raised the alarm. The missing person after nearly 30 minutes had eventually managed to find his way back to the yacht much to everyones relief.

An Inshore Lifeboat Service

 

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