The UK Maritime Coast Guard Agency rescued two people off Cornwall on November 18, after their sailing vessel took on water and started to sink.
Specifically, on early morning of November 18, the Falmouth Coast Guard received a radio mayday broadcast from the two people in danger, as their 70-feet yacht, located 21 nautical miles north of the Isle of Scilly, was taking on water and its electric systems failed due to the incoming weather conditions.
Therefore, the two people were not able to stop the water flow as it kept increasing.
After sending the mayday call, the crew wore their life jackets, launched the life raft, climbed aboard and abandoned the yacht.
In light of the mayday call, the Coastguard Search and Rescue Helicopter (R924) from Newquay and the St Ives RNLI all-weather lifeboat were sent to the rescue by Falmouth Coastguard. A nearby fishing vessel, Cornishman, had also heard the radio distress message and went to offer help.
Following, the search and rescue helicopter from Newquay arrived at 6.15am and quickly spotted the two men in their life raft.
The two crew were winched into the aircraft and airlifted to the helicopter’s base at Newquay for medical checks and welfare support.
After the rescue operation, the FV Cornishman collected the now abandoned life raft and advised Falmouth Coastguard that the yacht sank.
Concluding, Jon Wood, Maritime Operations Specialist, Falmouth Coastguard, commented
The crew took exactly the right course of action. Their immediate mayday call on VHF Channel 16 enabled us to pinpoint their position and get help to them quickly. Wearing life jackets and deploying their life raft increased the likelihood of their survival as the yacht sank beneath them.
