Monday 27 August 2018

Salvage video - Local tug boat Danmark pulls stranded yacht, Get Knotted from the rocks.

Penlee lifeboat was tasked at 0715 on Sunday 26th August, together with the Penlee Lifeboat (ILB), by Falmouth Coastguard Operations Centre following a report that a yacht was on rocks near the Bus Station, Penzance.

Quickly on scene Penlee ILB reported that the Yacht was on rocks near to the Three Tunnels under Chy-an-Dour Cliff and they were deploying a crew member at the closest steps to investigate the welfare of the single occupant.

Penlee All-Weather Lifeboat (ALB) had also been requested and had arrived close to the area. Arriving on scene scene we deployed water rescue equipment and first aid kit and made our way to the location, in the meantime the ILB Crewman reported that the lone occupant of the yacht, who had injured his hip in a fall when the yacht grounded, had been encouraged off the vessel as the sea was breaking over the stern of the vessel. His two dogs had also jumped ashore.

The team was with the casualty, who was immobile on the rocks and close to the sea, a medical assessment was made and a request for an ambulance made. In the meantime his hip was immobilised and he was placed onto our stretcher to be carried up the rocks and over the wall to the cycle path, additional lifeboat crew had joined us to assist in the operation.

With some difficulty the male aged 64 was conveyed up to the cycle path for a more in-depth medical assessment, following this he was carried to an awaiting ambulance close to the bus station. His dogs were also recovered and led away to the care of the local Police. 

By Sunday afternoon preparations were underway to pull the yacht from the rocks at high water as it was in danger of breaking up due to a light swell running in the bay.




As high water approached the yacht was still firmly held by the rocks of the armoured sea wall adjacent to the mainline railway into Penzance station...



the stranded yacht had attracted  small crowd of onlookers all day...



Penzance harbourmaster Neil Clark was there to advise the Coastguard Rescue team who arrived as a precaution...



to assist the tug Danmark in the salvage attempt...



with the yachts anchor line firmly held by rocks under the water the salvage team had to put another towline aboard the yacht...


before she was eventually towed off the rocks...



and on her way to Penzance Harbour to dry out on a falling tide which would then allow her to be pumped empty of water and the hole in her side patched.