At 12:33 Falmouth Coastguard requested that Falmouth Inshore Lifeboat be launched to assist the 23ft Yacht Polly Oliver which had run aground with three persons onboard between Greenbank Quay and Coastlines Wharf.

The Inshore Lifeboat launched from her slipway at 12:38 and arrived on scene at 12:40. The yacht was located aground amongst the moorings on the Greenbank side of the Penryn River. A member of the lifeboat crew was put onboard the yacht to help take the sails down, and then a towline was made secure, and by healing the yacht over the Inshore Lifeboat was eventually able to drag the yacht into the deeper water. It was then towed into the more sheltered waters of Falmouth Docks where the sails were put up again and at 13:01 the lifeboat man was transferred back to the inshore lifeboat while the yacht continued its passage to St Mawes, the Inshore Lifeboat being released to return to station.

The Inshore Lifeboat was back on its slipway by 13:10 where it was refuelled, rehoused and was ready for service by 13:25.

The Polly Oliver is an Ajax class racing boat and its skipper had misjudged the depth of water outside of the main channel. His boat and crew were well-equipped and all wearing lifejackets but did not have a handheld VHF radio so they had to rely on their mobile phone to call for assistance.

An Inshore Lifeboat Service

 

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