RNLI lifeguards and volunteer lifeboat crews from St Agnes, Newquay, and Padstow joined forces this week to rescue a yacht in distress near Perranporth.

On Monday afternoon, the lifeguards launched the rescue watercraft and made contact with the yacht crew who informed the lifeguards they had lost power, and their VHF signal was down, meaning they were unable to communicate.

With the weather deteriorating and the yacht at risk of drifting into the surfing area, the Coastguard called upon additional resources.

St Agnes RNLI’s D-Class lifeboat and Newquay Atlantic Class lifeboat were deployed alongside the Perranporth lifeguards.

Assessing the situation, a tow was deemed the safest course of action.

With a long tow ahead in challenging conditions, the all-weather Tamar Class lifeboat from Padstow RNLI was launched to take over the tow from Newquay RNLI.

St Agnes RNLI lifeboat crews accompanied the yacht as it was towed to meet the Padstow RNLI lifeboat, which then took over the tow.

Due to low tide, Padstow could not tow the yacht directly into Padstow Harbour. Instead, they returned it to the lifeboat mooring in the River Camel.

The Padstow lifeboat crew completed the operation, returning to their station at 5:30 pm, refuelling, and ready for service by 6:00 pm.

Volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager for St Agnes RNLI, Emma Watkins said: “This is a great example of the RNLI working as one crew.

"Each RNLI vessel has its strengths and today showed that the training our crews receive allows them to work together to the highest standards.”

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts.

The RNLI operates over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and, in a normal year, more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and the Channel Islands.

The RNLI is independent of the Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service.