Penlee lifeboats have completed what was by far the busiest summer on record.Crews performed no fewer than 39 services between March and October, shared almost equally between the Severn Class Ivan Ellen and the inshore Atlantic 75 Paul Alexander.

Some of the services were routine, tow-ins of broken-down fishing boats and rescues of holiday-makers in distress, but some were more demanding.

A Newlyn trawler was towing in a broken-down colleague in a stiff onshore wind when, just half-a-mile from the harbour, the towing boat also suffered an engine breakdown, leaving both boats drifting towards shore. Both Penlee lifeboats were quickly launched and Ivan Ellen succeeded in towing both trawlers out to sea to a safer position until they could be separated and brought in safely one by one.

There was also an urgent call to the yacht Sea Quest, which had become dismasted in heavy seas about ten miles to the south. Two crewmen had to make the hazardous transfer to the yacht to cut away the mast and rigging before she could be taken in tow.

And on September 23 there was a long and sad service to the yacht Grey Seal which was found at anchor with her engine running off Mullion but with no-one aboard.

The lifeboat searched for several hours before bringing the Grey Seal across the bay to Newlyn. The body of her skipper was found about ten days later.

The Ivan Ellen has finally been placed at her new and much-delayed pontoon base.

For much of the summer she was tied up amongst the trawlers and each shout had to begin with a hot and lengthy run the length of the Mary Williams Pier.

* Penlee RNLI will be holding its annual coffee morning at St John's Hall from 10am to 2pm on Saturday (December 2). There will be plenty of gifts and Christmas cards on sale in aid of RNLI funds.

Mike Sagar-Fenton will be signing copies of Penlee Lifeboat - The First 200 Years, and there will be a chance to meet Penlee officials and helpers.

Article copyright THE CORNISHMAN 

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