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Boat: All Weather Lifeboat
Crew: Mark Pollard (Coxswain), John Blakeston, Snowy Angove, Alan Rowe, Nick Lewis, Sandy Procter
Location: Gyllyngvase Reef
Shout Date: 15/10/2009 - 21:28
Weather:NW 2, Slight Sea & Swell, Good Visibility, Clear Sky

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At 21:16 Falmouth Coastguard requested that Falmouth All Weather Lifeboat be launched following a 999 call reporting a small boat with possibly two people onboard hitting the reef off Gyllyngvase Beach. At 21:22 it was also decided to launch the Falmouth Inshore Lifeboat, as it could not be confirmed if anyone had entered the water. The Falmouth Coastguard Mobile and search team were also tasked.

The All Weather Lifeboat left its pontoon berth at 21:28 and commenced its search after rounding Pendennis Point off Castle Beach at 21:37. The Inshore Lifeboat, which had arrived on scene off Gyllyngvase Beach at 21:30, carried out a search of the coastline between Pendennis Point to Maenporth while the All Weather Lifeboat searched further out into the bay. At 21:45 a Rescue Helicopter from RNAS Culdrose was also tasked to assist with the search.

By 22:20 the area had been extensively searched and the only vessel located was a small fishing boat, which had been in the area laying its nets. At 22:29 the coastguard decided that the search should be called off and all units were released to return to station.

The All Weather Lifeboat was back alongside its pontoon berth by 22:48. The lifeboat was then refuelled, and was ready for service by 23:10.

The first informant had remained on scene and had given a clear description of what he had observed. It is believed that the vessel that hit the rocks was either the small fishing boat that was located by the All Weather Lifeboat but had been adamant that they had not been that close in, or it was another unknown boat, which had continued on its passage and left the area.