MFV Sarah Jayne sinks - one crew missing

A major search was under way this afternoon after a trawler sank off Berry Head.

BM249 Sarah Jayne rigged for scalloping

One fisherman was said to be missing while two others were rescued by another vessel. They were brought ashore by helicopter and were recovering at torbay Hospital.
MCA Press release issued at 1330

Local fishing boats, lifeboats and merchant ships search for the missing fisherman from the Sarah Jayne

Torbay and Exmouth lifeboats were at sea searching the area. Other fishing boats from Brixham were scouring the area in the hope of finding the missing man.

The Betty G II and the Sparkling Star III were among the fishing boats taking part in the search late this afternoon.

Other boats including the Sasha Emiel put out from Brixham around 4pm to join in the search.

The capsized boat has been identified as the Sarah Jayne, a 49 foot beam trawler. It is believed to be registered in Exmouth but may have been working out of Brixham.

The RNLI confirmed that the search was taking place two and a half miles east of Berry Head.

The Royal Fleet Auxiliary Wave Knight was making its way to the scene as the search continued.

The Coastguard helicopter from Portland was also involved in the operation, searching the area where the trawler went down.

Brixham Coastguard first picked up a distress alert from the fishing vessel Girl Rhona at 11:24am, informing them that another fishing vessel had capsized 2.5 miles off Berry Head and they had managed to retrieve two of the three fishermen from the water.

A Coastguard spokesman said: "The Coastguard Rescue helicopter was scrambled from Portland and the Torbay RNLI lifeboat was requested to launch.

"A Mayday broadcast was put out to shipping in the area and a number of vessels including the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Wave Knight have offered assistance in the search currently being coordinated by Brixham Coastguard."

The capsized vessel is a 15m beam trawler operating out of Brixham.

Story courtesy of ThisIsSouthDevon.co.uk

Inseyandra, missing mast from the Fastnet Yach Race

 Safely berthed after retiring from the Fastnet Yacht Race, competitor Inseyandra was forced to quit the race after losing her mast on the second leg while heading for the finish at Plymouth........

she shows signs of some strong seas, with the Rolex vinyl sticker blasted off the bow of the yacht.

Coastguard cuts cut.

Gwennap Head was an early casualty in the last round of big cuts to the Coastguard servics back in the 1980s - many of these stations, like Gwennap Head at Land's End, are now manned by volunteers for the National Coastwatch Institutiion.

Plans to close coastguard stations around Britain will be scaled back by ministers this week after warnings that the cuts could put lives at risk - so goes this article from the Sunday Telegraph - congratulations to all those who campaigned tirelesly to cut the cuts - a big victory for commen sense, local Cornish MP Sheryll Murray must be pleased.

"Not a done deal" says the MCA as row boat Papa Delta reaches Antigua - thanks to FCG.

Many of those who attended the public meeting on the proposed Coastguard cuts that include ending 24/7 cover at Falmouth came away feeling that it was "a done deal". A spokesperson for the MCA on Radio Cornwall's Breakfast Show this morning failed to convince that this was the case and prompted one caller to ring in and say they would be contacting their local MP in protest.


News has reached our shores,via Falmouth Coastguard of course who over night were monitoring the arrival of Papa Delta, the two-handed rowing boat that has just arrived safely in Antigua after crossing the Atlantic raising money for Parkinson's UK. Their exploits including a post just a few moments after arriving can be viewed on their blog here.


The two brothers, Matthew and Christian Cleghorn, aboard the boat made the headlines a few weeks back when their boat was hit by a large wave which swamped their food stores causing them to call for help via FCG and again a few weeks later when the steering was damaged.

Public meeting - Save Falmouth Coastguard!

Add this date to your diary if you are able to make this meeting next month.

In the meantime, spread the word, check out the SOS Coastguard page and get all your contacts to sign the petition:

Be at Tremough Campus, Penryn for a 7.30 pm start on Wednesday 9th March and hear a presentation from the consultancy team charged with evaluating the future of the Coastguard service around the UK coast and in particular Falmouth Coastguard Station.




View Larger Map