---

Boat: All Weather Lifeboat
Crew: Mark Pollard (Coxswain), David Proud, Alan Rowe, Carl Beardmore, Oliver Lewis, Luke Wills, Toni Partridge
Location: 0.5 miles East of Black Head
Shout Date: 30/11/2008 - 06:42
Weather:NE 7, Moderate Sea & Heavy Swell, Good Visibility, Sunny Periods

---

At 06:29 Falmouth Coastguard requested that Falmouth All Weather Lifeboat be launched to assist the 18ft Yacht February that was disabled and drifting with one person onboard 0.5 miles East of Black Head.

Falmouth All Weather Lifeboat left its pontoon berth at 06:42 and arrived on scene at Black Head at 07:14. There was no sign of the casualty so a search was commenced down wind and at 07:23 the casualty was located about 2 miles South West of the original position. In view of the heavy swell and the yachts size it was decided to launch the lifeboats Y-Boat Inflatable to transfer two lifeboat crew to the yacht at 07:57 and transfer its occupant to the lifeboat.

By 08:17 a towline had been passed to the yacht and the lifeboat set course for the more sheltered waters of Coverack Bay where the Y-Boat could be recovered. Once this was complete the lifeboat and tow continued through the Inner Passage of the Manacles before heading across Falmouth Bay. The yacht was eventually placed safely alongside the lifeboats pontoon at 11:41.

The All Weather Lifeboat was back alongside its pontoon berth by 11:45. The lifeboat was then refuelled, and was ready for service by 12:05.

The yacht had left the Helford the previous evening for a sail but had encountered adverse weather conditions off Black Head, and with its sails and rigging damaged its outboard engine then failed so the occupant decided to ask for assistance.