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Penlee called to windsurfer and yacht

Lifeguards News Release

RNLI Penlee Lifeboat Station was tasked by Falmouth Coastguard just after 7pm on Saturday 16 August 2025 to a kite surfer who appeared to be having problems with the easterly wind near St. Michael’s Mount.

Picture shows a yacht under limited sail

RNLI/Neville Pittman

The yacht with damaged rigging makes her way to Newlyn
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The person was picked up by ‘Ivan Ellen’ and dropped off at St. Michael’s Mount by relief coxswain Neville Pittman and a a crew of 6 RNLI volunteers. The person involved was managing the conditions but accepted the advice from Coxswain Pittman.


The RNLI lifeboat ‘Ivan Ellen’ was tasked again by Falmouth Coastguard just before 8am on Sunday 17 August 2025 to assist a yacht with damaged rigging 2 miles SE of The Lizard. Although this was Lizard Lifeboat area, Penlee were preferred because the yacht could only head downwind.
Coxswain Neville Pittman and his crew of 6 RNLI volunteers headed into the easterly wind to rendezvous with the yacht. On arrival the lifeboat found that the yacht was making way and the call was reduced from assist to escort back to Newlyn.

The skipper thanked the Penlee Lifeboat volunteers for their support and ecort into Newlyn.

RNLI/Josh Wheeler

The yacht is escorted to Newlyn by Penlee Lifeboat
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Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI is the charity that 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 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,700 lives.

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For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.

About the author

Philip Monckton
Lifeboat Press Officer, Penlee Lifeboat Station

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