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Boat: All Weather Lifeboat
Crew: John Blakeston (Coxswain), David Proud, Alan Rowe, Nick Lewis, Dave Nicoll, Tom Bird, Joe Sabien
Location: Off Manacle Buoy
Shout Date: 09/09/2008 - 13:29
Weather:S 6, Rough Sea & Moderate Swell, Good Visibility, Sunny Periods

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At 13:19 Falmouth Coastguard requested that Falmouth All Weather Lifeboat be launched to assist the 50ft Yacht Audacious with three people onboard, which had requested assistance when its engine had failed and its anchor had become fouled on fishing gear off the Manacles.

Falmouth All Weather Lifeboat left its pontoon berth at 13:29 and once clear of the harbour set a course for the yachts position, arriving on scene at 13:52. Two lifeboat crew were transferred to the yacht using the Lifeboats Inflatable Y-Boat to assess the situation and try and clears its anchor. The lifeboat passed a towline to the yacht to try and take the weight off the anchor, but it proved impossible to recover it, so the anchor and chain was released and buoyed allowing the yacht to be towed into Falmouth. The yacht was safely placed alongside the Visitors Yacht Haven at 16:07, the lifeboat then recovering its Y-Boat before it returned to station.

The All Weather Lifeboat was back alongside its pontoon berth by 16:15 where it was then refuelled, and was ready for service by 16:40.

The 50ft yacht had been on passage from the Bristol Channel to La Coruna in Spain, but had encountered heavy weather off Lands End, which had resulted in the mainsail becoming damaged. In view of this the skipper had decided to motor to Falmouth for repairs but as the yacht was passing the Manacle Buoy its engine had failed so the skipper requested assistance while his crew deployed their anchor to prevent them being driven onto the rocks, but this had then fouled some local fishing gear.