Maverick under tow - both Penlee lifeboats busy yet again!

Penlee lifeboat was kept busy yesterday, first providing the final tow into the harbour for the crabber Harriet Eve and then for picking up the pollack handliner Maverick which had suffered fuel supply problems.  The inshore lifeboat ILB Ivor and Mollie Dent was on standby astern of the tow as the two boats entered Newlyn in poor weather.

Maverick was 50 Miles off and heading home when her main engine cut out. Skipper Dave Smith changed filters and bled system and made a few more miles before same thing happened again. After the 3rd time this happened just 5 miles from Newlyn he decided to call the coastguard in case it happened coming in through the gaps in such scuffly weather.

Penlee and Sennen lifeboats called out to assist French trawler La Fanette adrift off Lands End.

Major rescue as fishing boat gets stranded in storm coastguard helicopter airlifts crew to safety.

Penlee and Sennen lifeboats both returned to Newlyn this morning - the weather being to rough at Sennen to allow the lifeboat to be retrieved.

Video courtesy of MCA/SAR crew from Newquay.

Six crew from a fishing vessel in distress have been airlifted from their disabled vessel off Lands End in atrocious weather conditions over night.The six crew on board were airlifted from the fishing vessel by Newquay Coastguard Rescue Helicopter.

Speaking after this morning's incredible rescue, Captain Sharky Finn from Newquay Coastguard helicopter said: 'This is definitely one of the most challenging jobs we’ve seen at Newquay. We were flying into a Force 8 gale with 20ft high waves swirling beneath us and we could clearly see the fishing vessel disappearing beneath the swell as we approached.

'We had the support of RNLI Sennen Cove on scene who had tried to establish a tow line but were unable to do so because of the severe weather conditions.

'We tried a variety of different winching positions as the fishing vessel pitched and rolled violently underneath us before lowering a hi-line and then our winchman to the bow. The only way we could do this was turn the helicopter 90 degrees out of winds which meant we were effectively flying sideways. Needless to say, it was very challenging deck; it stretched the capabilities of both the crew and the aircraft. However, despite this pressure we were able to take our time and safely recovered all six crewmates and our winchman to the aircraft before returning to the Newquay base. We’re grateful for the support of the Newquay Coastguard Rescue Team and the Newlyn Seaman’s Mission who met us when we returned.'

The trawler had been fishing north of the Scillys when her main engine failed...

she drifted SSE after the crew had dropped her trawl on the seabed to anchor her some 8 miles west of  Pendeen...

both Sennen and Penlee lifeboats were paged around 3am this morning to assist after the crew were airlifted off by helicopter...

the trawler is now being monitored by the MCA and coastguard as she drifts, abandoned, slowly south in heavy seas...

another French trawle, Alf stopped by briefly on her way steaming northwards.


The MCA reported the story early this morning:

HM Coastguard was alerted at around 10pm on Tuesday night to the 24 metre French registered fishing vessel, La Fanette which had suffered engine failure. Another fishing vessel went to assist and HM Coastguard requested the launch of Sennen Cove RNLI lifeboat. Despite atrocious weather, Sennen Cove Lifeboat launched but due to 5-6 metre waves on scene and storm force winds, it was impossible for either the fishing vessel or the lifeboat to establish a tow with La Fanette. Penlee RNLI all weather lifeboat also attended.

The six crew on board were airlifted from the fishing vessel by Newquay Coastguard Rescue Helicopter.

Penlee lifeboat Crew - Coxswain Patch Harvey, Mechanic Tony Rendle, David Pascoe, Ben Keogh, Andrew Wood, Jack Shannon, and Dan Sell.

"Six crew from a fishing vessel in distress have been airlifted from their disabled vessel off Lands End in atrocious weather conditions over night.

"HM Coastguard was alerted at around 10pm on Tuesday night to the 24m French registered fishing vessel, La Fanette, which had suffered engine failure.

"Another fishing vessel went to assist and HM Coastguard requested the launch of Sennen Cove RNLI lifeboat.

This video was shot aboard the vessel some 5 years ago. She was built in 2012 by Socarenam for Armament Quirat Porcher-Lemaitre

The Fanette is now under tow from a sistership Faradet...

and expected to rendevous with the French tug Kermor around midnight tonight.

Penlee and Sennen lifeboats off Porthcurno caught on the Minack webcam!

Both @Penleelifeboat and Sennen were called out along with the SAR helicopter from Newquay...

and were caught on camera by the Minack Theatre webcam!

Penlee lifeboat out on a shout

Waiting for the tide to drop...

two beamers on this morning's market...

the William's big shot, unusual to see that many JDs at this time of year...

the stuff of nightmares....

and a distant cousin...

of the salmon...

it's that time of year when many fish are full of roe...

but which fish is this?...

with one eye on the auctioneer...

buying gold on the market...

and more top quality fish...

ready to go...

making tracks for the transport network...

the IRB is first away as the lifeboats get a call...

to go out on a shout - La Mouette or Molly May as she is now known had been taken to Mousehole Island by the skipper to sort a problem with her rudder when she drifted away and left the skipper stranded...

 the IRB picked up the red-faced skipper...

and the Ivan Ellen towed his boat back to Newlyn...

all quiet on the Admiral Gordon this morning.

Penlee 33 years ago.

Twelve hours after the Penlee lifeboat was lost the Nelwyn trawler Fern under skipper Alan Goddard searches for any signs of survivors off Tater Dhu alongside the St Mary's lifeboat and Rescue 192 from Culdrose.

Lifeboat Sunday - the original Penlee lifeboat station open to the public for the first time since 1981

The public gets a chance to look around the Penlee lifeboat Ivan Ellen...

slipping (thankfully) well behind in the 'shouts' league table this year...

today saw plenty of dedicated supporters manning various stalls in the ILB boatshed...

with a range of goodies on offer...

and a display of Penlee lifeboat memorabilia...

including items from the old lifeboat shed...

flying that most symbolic flag...

served so valiantly by the likes of Charlie Wackers (top) who was lost on the Solomon Browne...

and today serving cake and cakes...

along with lifeboat souvenirs...

served with a smile...

along the harbour wall the Christmas lights team swing into action...

along at Penlee Point the old lifeboat station is open for the first time since 1981...

seems every man...

and his dogs wants to get a look in

with a warm welcome at the door from lifeboat crew David Pascoe...

once inside the huge winch can be seen that hauled the original boat Elizabeth Blanche up the steeper than normal slipway...

on the walls the service record stops with the last shout recorded...

the French yacht Gan which ran aground on the the beach in front of Newlyn Green in August 16th 1979 without loss of life...

there have been many changes to the slip over the years to accommodate successive and bigger boats, the Elizabeth Blanche weighed around 8 tons, by comparison, today's Ivan Ellen weighs in at around 44 tons...

which would be more than enough for the diesel powered winch...

hauling up such a steep slope...

outside the plaque tells the story...

with a view of Penzance just over a mile away...

these days the lifeboat is kept on a pontoon berth for immediate action...

meanwhile the harbour's business carries on as normal...

with boats like the Mayflower getting ready for sea...

now pacing himself with his batteries fully charged, handline maestro Dennis Pascoe and father of lifeboat crew David enjoys a Wagon Wheel after landing 62Kg of huge squid for his morning's work...

ILB and ALB together in their berths...

not one of the crew sleeping on the job but the practice dummy taking a break...

inside and at the helm a couple of youngsters get to hear all about the boat...

and even a chance to see what 2,5000 Hp looks like with her twin Caterpillar engines...

today is also about the fundraising of course...

and a rare chance to get all round the boat in safe conditions...

and a look at the ILB Paul Alexander

the lifeboat house always post details of the last shout in the seaward window...

in front of the market, the Britannia V is about to land...

a good shot of hake for Monday's market...

after only two days at sea...

the hake fishing has not been this good for 20 years.