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Boat: All Weather Lifeboat
Crew: Mark Pollard (Coxswain), John Blakeston, David Proud, Snowy Angove, Alistair Heane, Dave Nicoll, Andy Jenkin
Location: 2 miles Southeast of Falmouth
Shout Date: 23/04/2011 - 22:53
Weather:N 6, Moderate Sea and Slight Swell, Good Visibility, Clear Sky

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At 22:42 Falmouth Coastguard requested that Falmouth All Weather Lifeboat be launched to assist the 20ft Yacht Fido in a reported position 2 miles Southeast of Falmouth. The yacht was being sailed single handed and was struggling to make any headway in the strong northerly wind.

The All Weather Lifeboat left its pontoon berth at 22:53 and headed out towards the original position given. Once clear of the harbour communications were established with the yacht and using the lifeboats VHF direction finding equipment the yacht was finally located 2 miles South of Pendennis Point at 23:18. The yacht was asked to drop its sails and a tow line was passed across and the tow back into Falmouth commenced at 23:35. On entering the inner harbour at 00:20 the lifeboat boarding boat took over the tow and placed the yacht in a berth at the Port Pendennis Marina, the lifeboat being released to return to station at 00:29.

The All Weather Lifeboat was back alongside its pontoon berth by 00:34. The lifeboat was then refuelled, and was ready for service by 00:49.

The 20ft racing yacht had been on passage from Cardiff to France for a race but had suffered gear failure off Land’s End and had diverted to Falmouth. The yacht had missed the entrance to the harbour and was struggling to make any headway due to the weather conditions and with its skipper exhausted by the 40 hour passage it was decided that it was wise to request the assistance of the lifeboat.