Busy weekend as lifeboat rescues 'panicking' kayakers and stricken yacht

It was a busy weekend for the crew of the Lizard lifeboat as they rescued kayakers “in a state of panic” and a yacht with engine failure.

On Saturday June 22 at 2.50am the Lizard Lifeboat was launched following a request from Falmouth Coastguard to go to the aid of a 32ft sailing vessel around 37 nautical miles south east of Lizard Point.

The vessel, with three people on board had suffered complete engine failure with partial rigging damage while on route to France.

The lifeboat arrived at the scene with the yacht at 04.57am that was now approximately 40nm south east of Lizard Point.

They decided to tow the vessel to Falmouth. The sea swell restricted the speed of the tow at times with RNLB Rose arriving in Falmouth at 12.15pm, nine hours after launching.

After allowing the crew to stretch their legs and get a bite eat, the crew continued their journey home arriving back at the lifeboat station at 2.20pm.

One of the kayaks is brought back in (Image: Lizard Lifeboat)

After covering over 100 nautical miles at sea the lifeboat was re-housed, refuelled and made ready for service again when required by 3pm, almost 12 hours after launching.

However it wasn’t long before they were out again when at 4.50pm the crew pagers sounded again.

A 999 call had been made to HM Coastguard from a casualty in a state of panic as they were struggling to get back to shore from the kayak they were on.

Unsure of their exact location, the casualty said there were two kayaks with three to four people potentially in need of assistance.

Under the command of Relief Coxswain Ed Leckie, RNLB Rose launched at 5.02pm and proceeded to head to the believed location between Kynance and Mullion Coves.

When they arrived at Kynance, the crew began a shoreline search from there and around to Rill Point which is where the casualty was sighted at 5.20pm waving an orange bag which had been attached to a paddle.

“Two kayaks and two casualties were relieved to see RNLB Rose approaching as both were struggling to stay on board and steer their crafts,” said the station in a Facebook post. “Both casualties were wearing life jackets.”

The kayakers were brought aboard the lifeboat with one person needing care treatment for shock.

RNLB Rose left the scene at 5.29pm and on approach to Mullion Cove both casualties and their kayaks were transferred from the lifeboat to the smaller Y-boat where they were safely taken into the harbour and to the care of the awaiting Coastguard Rescue Teams from Mullion and Porthoustock.

Because of the two service launches carried out by the crews over the weekend with RNLB Rose spending 14 hours sea and covering over 100 nautical miles the Monday evening scheduled launch on exercise were cancelled.

Photographs: Sam James & Alfred Amiss