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Boat: All Weather Lifeboat
Crew: Mark Pollard (Coxswain), John Blakeston, David Proud, Snowy Angove, Alan Rowe, Alistair Heane
Location: Black Rock, entrance to Falmouth Harbour
Shout Date: 02/05/2009 - 18:33
Weather:W 2, Slight Sea & Swell, Good Visibility, Overcast

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At 18:23 Falmouth Coastguard requested that both Falmouth All Weather and Inshore Lifeboats be launched following reports of two separate incidents close to Black Rock at the entrance to Falmouth Harbour. The 35ft Yacht Ju Kyu which had grounded on Black Rock was reporting steering difficulties and an injured crewman, while the Motor Cruiser Lindsey had reported engine failure close nearby.

Falmouth All Weather Lifeboat left its pontoon berth at 18:33 and headed out of the harbour. The Inshore Lifeboat was already alongside the yacht and had placed a first aider from the Inshore Lifeboat onboard the yacht to carryout an initial assessment of the casualtys condition. At 18:41 the All Weather Lifeboat arrived on scene and transferred two additional lifeboat crew to the yacht which by then had regained its steerage so it was decided to escort the yacht to the lifeboat pontoon where a Paramedic could carryout a further check before the casualty was moved. The yacht was safely moored alongside the pontoon by 18:54 and at 19:29 the casualty was in an ambulance and on her way to Treliske Hospital. The yacht then headed over to the Port Pendennis Marina escorted by the Inshore Lifeboat while the All Weather Lifeboat returned to its pontoon berth.

The All Weather Lifeboat was back alongside its pontoon berth by 19:38. The lifeboat was then refuelled, and was ready for service by 19:56.

The Ju Kyu with five persons onboard had been taking part in the annual Plymouth to Falmouth race and was crossing the finishing line when it had sailed too close to the reef which surrounds Black Rock. The impact had caused one its crew to hit her head on the hatch cover and fall down the companionway, while the yacht had also lost steerage. The steerage problems appear to have been caused by the helmsman falling against the yachts wheel during the grounding. The other incident that had been going on at the same time was quickly resolved when another vessel took the Motor Cruiser Lindsey in tow allowing both lifeboats to concentrate on the more serious incident.