Incidents - Most recent at top
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Thur 5 July 18 14.13 - Falmouth CG telephoned to say that someone had contacted them with a report of a vessel signalling distress approximately 1nm off Trvose Head. Watchkeeper advised FCG that Lookout did not have visual on that location and had not heard any report but would keep an eye out. At 14.12 FCG rang again to advise no further sighting or reports received so no further action taken.
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Mon 3 July 18 13.28 - PAN PAN message received on CH65 from unknown vessel off Harlyn Bay - mesage relayed to Falmouth CG by 999 call. Padstow Lifeboat launched and found yacht drifting towards rocks off Harlyn Bay with rope round its propeller. Rope cleared and yacht returned to Padstow under its own power.
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Sun 1 July 18 13.52 - CH16 report of yacht Stella caught fast on buoy North of Padstow. Falmouth CG responded to clarify position as 20nm North of Camel Estuary with 2 POB. At 14.01 FCG transmitted a PAN PAN asking for any vessel in the vicinity to assist yacht Stella and that Padstow Lifeboat was being launched. At 14.13 yacht Stella was seen at the limit of visibility from the Lookout and Watchkeeper observed Island Explorer heading toward yacht Stella. Padstow Lifeboat launched at 14.16 and FCG confirmed yacht Stella position as 50 53.7N 04 56W - Lifeboat ETA in 50 minutes. At 14.58 yacht Stella took down sails and was no longer visible from the Lookout. At 14.58 Padstow Lifeboat passe ETA of 10 minutes to Yacht Stella on CH16. Padstow Lifeboat reported at 15.13 that they were with yacht Stella, would cut her free from buoy and tow back to Padstow.
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Mon 28 May 18 16.02 - FCG heard calling on CH16 to any vessel able to assist yacht with broken engine 6nm off Padstow. Watchkeeper telephoned Padstow Harbout Patrol and informed him that Athena M was about 4nm due North of Stepper Point. Harbour Patrol agreed to try to contact Athena M via the Harbour Office. At 16.04 the Watchkeeper rand FCG to inform them of fishing vessel in range but was asked to call back in 5 minutes as FCG was busy on another incident. By 16.15 there had been no furthercalls on CH16 from FCG. At 16.41 Athena M was logged inbound to Padstow. The Padstow Harbour Patrol RIB was logged outbound at 17.08 and at 17.30 called FCG to inform them that he had the yacht in tow and estimated retun to Padstow Harbour in about 1 hour. At the close of the watch, 18.00, Padstow Harbour Patrol RIB was 2.75 nm on bearing 4.26 inbound towing yacht.
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Mon 14 May 18 14.38 - Fishing Vessel ‘Autumn Rose‘ telephoned the Lookout to inform us that there was a female paddle boarder wearing a yellow lifejacket to the West of us and appeared to be heading for Newland Island. Not yet in our sight. Watchkeeper rang the Harbour Patrol to ask if he could go out and take a look. Now in view 0.75 nm off shore bearing 298 degrees. At 14.52 the paddle boarder now approx. 1nm at 320 degrees and appeared to be accompanied by a yacht. At 15.01 the Harbour Patrol rang back to say that the paddle boarded was on a Round Cornwall Charity Paddle and accompanied by a safety boat. Would have been nice to know. NCI Boscastle informed.
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Fri 4 May 18 09.12 38ft Sailing Yacht ‘Cassiopeia‘ called Falmouth Coastguard to report a rope caught round its propeller and asked for a tow back to Padstow. His position was 0.5 NM off Trevose Head. At 09.38 the Padstow Lifeboat launched to go to their aid. At 09.57 ‘Cassiopeia‘ was under tow but Padstow Lifeboat reported heavy drag. The ‘Y‘ boat was launched to investigate and found the obstacle was a large net. After cutting the net away, and recovering, it the tow got underway at 10.16. Padstow Lifeboat rounded Stepper Point at 10.50 and at 11.25 ‘Cassiopeia‘ was on a mooring outside Padstow Harbour. The Padstow Lifeboat returned to its station.
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31 March 2018 15.43 – Watchkeeper concerned about a windsurfer that appeared to be in difficulty off Daymer beach. Padstow Harbour Patrol RIB was telephoned and went to escort the windsurfer safely to the beach.
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25 March 2018 11.48 - Watchkeeper became concerned about a lone windsurfer who had become separated from his rig by about 50m. After observing the situation for 5 minutes Falmouth Coastguard were informed of the situation but as the windsurfer was not in difficulty rescue action was not initiated. Eventually the rig was blown onto Tregirls beach and the windsurfer swam ashore to collect it.
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24 Feb 2018 11.28 - 11:28 Falmouth Coastguard called Polzeath and Padstow Rescue Teams for an animal rescue at Broadagogue Cove. At 12.00 both rescue teams were on scene on North side of Pentireglaze Haven together with Rock ILB. Dog recovered (dead) at 12.06 and all rescue services stood down by Falmouth Coastguard.
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Fri 23 February 2018 11:15 A RIB with callsign ‘Halmatic‘ called us on Ch 16. Watchkeeper tried calling back on Ch 65 but was unable to make contact. RIB disappeared from view
into haze between Newland Is and Pentire heading for Pentire. Falmouth Coastguard informed by telephone and asked us to continue visual observation.
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4 Jan 2018 11.20 - A lone wind surfer observed surfing the large waves forming across the sand bar between the Lookout and Trebetherick Rocks. The Inshore Waters Forecast broadcast a gale warning for Lundy as Storm Force 10 increasing to Force 11. At 12.00 watch handover the new crew were briefed that he was obviously an experienced windsurfer as he was happily racing across the waves up and down the estuary but under the conditions we needed to keep an eye on him. At about 12.30 his mast snapped and he ended up in the water parted from his board. The surfer struggled to catch up his board but the waves were fortunately propelling them both upstream away from the open sea. The watchkeepers were just about to raise the alarm when the surfer managed to get back on his board and paddle across to Trebetherick Rocks. At 12.47 he was seen walking along the coast path towards Daymer Bay car park.
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20 September 2017- 11:25 Falmouth Coast Guard called the lookout after receiving a 999 call from a member of the public concerned that a small sailing craft appeared to be in difficulty between Rock and Daymer Bay. FCG requested Lookout to see if they could see the vessel. Lookout identified vessel through binoculars and noted that a small inflatable was in attendance. The Padstow Harbour Patrol was also close by and was contacted on CH65 by the lookout and checked that all was OK. Harbour Patrol reported that was was not a problem. Lookout contacted FCG to inform them and the incident was closed at 11:45
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5 September 2017 - 08.45 While walking up to the Lookout the watchkeepers noticed a fishing vessel high and dry on the rocks at Trebetherick. On arrival at the Lookout they established that it was FY408 the Le Man Du, a scallop dredger which operates in the Bristol Channel and attempted to come into Padstow in the early morning, in the dark. The 3 man crew were taken off safely. In preparation for an attempt to pull her off at high tide (17.57) the Padstow Lifeboat arrived on scene at 15.27, followed by the Harbour Patrol RIB and the dredger Mannin. At 16.17 PW 45, Charisma, and PW 64, Trevose, joined the group. At 16.59 Charisma had a tow line attached to the Le Men Du and pulled her clear of the rocks at 17.43.
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30 July 2017 - 16:42 Falmouth Coastguard rang in response to a 999 telephone call about a yellow pedalo/kayak
Falmouth Coastguard rang in response to a 999 telephone call about a yellow pedalo/kayak seen out fishing - person concerned it was being swept out to sea. Reported that we had seen a yellow kayak earlier but it was not now in view. Falmouth Coastguard requested keep watch and report back if anything seen. 16.57 Telephoned Falmouth Coastguard to report yellow kayak now visible and not in distress. Falmouth Coastguard thanked us for input. 17.22 Watchkeeper telephoned the Padstow Harbour Patrol and asked him to check the yellow kayak. 17.29 PHP called on Ch 65 to say all was well.
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28 July 2017 - 17:20 Two 13 year old lads stranded on the rocks between Daymer and Hayle Bay
Watchkeepers overhear call on Ch 16 from Falmouth Coastguard to Polzeath Lifeguards asking them to stand-by. Then 17:27 there was a Ch 00 page for the Polzeath C.R.T. with a report of two 13 years lads stranded on the rocks between Daymer and Hayle Bay. The Rock Lifeboat also launched to attend. Watchkeepers scanned the area from Daymer to Polzeath but could see no sign of boys - Visibility was very poor and down at times to 1nm. It was not until 17.35 that the Polzeath CRT, all in their day glow yellows, arrived and were trying to reach the boys that we saw them. They were both dressed in black wet suits so not easy to spot, especially in low visibility. Rock Lifeboat informed Falmouth Coastguard that a rescue by them was not practical, unless life threatening, due to adjacent rocks. The boys were about five metres above the waterline so in no immediate danger. At 17:48 Falmouth Coastguard requested the Coastguard helicopter 924 to attend, they were on scene in 3 minutes from Newquay and winched the lads up and landed in an adjacent field to unloaded them. We stayed on at the Lookout until 18:20hrs just in case, but we were not needed at all.
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28 July 2017 - 11:30 Windsurfer in difficulty on the Doom Bar with broken rig
Windsurfer in difficulty on the Doom Bar with broken rig. Picked up by Wave Hunter, who was passing, and taken back to Daymer Bay.
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27 July 2017 15:18 - Female with fractured left leg on footpath at SW 910715
Falmouth Coastguard overheard talking to the Air Ambulance and Padstow Cliff Rescue Team mobilized. 15:25 Padstow CRT inform Falmouth Coastguard that a female with fractured left leg on footpath at SW 910715. 15:31 Air Ambulance landed at Harbour Cove and Padstow CRT stretcher casualty to helicopter. 16:10 Padstow CRT inform Falmouth Coastguard casualty in helicopter ready for take-off. 16:20 Helicopter away on route to Treliske Hospital.
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23 July 2017 - 17:00 Dog Over Cliff at Butterhole
Watchkeeper had completed the RNLI Lifeboat Survey for the day and was making his way home along the coastal footpath when he saw a black spaniel type dog at the cliff edge above Butter Hole. The dog was barking, looking over the edge and acting in a very distressed manner. Hurrying down the hill the watchkeeper stumbled and took his eyes off the dog for a moment; when he looked up the dog had disappeared and was nowhere to be seen in open fields. Nothing could be seen looking down into Butter Hole but as it was near high tide there was no beach. Concerned that the dog and its owner might be over the cliff the watchkeeper rang the lookout to report the incident. 17.02 Lookout watchkeeper rang the Coastguard to inform them of the incident but was told that as no person was seen they would note the information but take no further action for a possible dog over the cliff. This information as relayed to first informant who said that as he was very concerned that there may be a person who had gone over the cliff he would make a 999 call himself. 17.21 HM Coastguard rang the lookout to say they had received a 999 call and had paged the Padstow Rescue Team and the Harlyn Lifeguards IRB to go to Butter Hole. Shortly afterwards the Padstow Harbour Patrol RIB was seen heading for the area. 17.30 Cliff Rescue Team on site and carried out a visual search. Padstow Harbour Patrol unable to enter the cove due to his size and the swell. 17.48 HM Coastguard launch Rock ILB as Harlyn IRB had gone to Roundhole at Trevone in error. 18.16 Duty watchkeeper informed the Coastguard that they were closing the watch and would proceed to the scene of the incident. At the scene they spoke to the Cliff Rescue Team who informed them that the Rock ILB had made a number of runs into Butter Hole towards the cave at the back but nothing had been found. After an extensive search of the area all assets were stood down. The Cliff Rescue Team thanked the watchkeepers and stressed that the correct action had been taken in calling for assistance.
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11 July 2017 - 17:46 Woman spotted in water off Daymer beach
Rock Lifeboat overheard on Ch 16 calling Falmouth Coastguard regarding a woman spotted in water off Daymer beach and two men trapped on rocks above. Woman had entered water to save a dog. Dog presumed dead. Falmouth Coastguard did not respond. 17.48 Watchkeeper commenced scan of Daymer Bay and adjacent cliff and Rock Lifeboat came into view. Padstow Harbour overheard calling for Padstow Harbour Patrol RIB to assist. He responded that he was on way to the Harbour Patrol RIB. 17.50 Harbour Patrol radioed Falmouth Coastguard on Ch 16 Stepper Point Harbour Patrol responding and attending incident. Falmouth Coastguard responded by calling Stepper Point NCI asking for a repeat message. Harbour Patrol responded that it was Stepper Point Harbour Patrol calling. 17.52 Watchkeeper telephoned Falmouth Coastguard and informed them that they are, in fact, in communication with Harbour Patrol not our NCI Sation. Watchkeeper informed Falmouth Coastguard that they have good view of cliffs and cannot see any men trapped. The woman was being picked up by RNLI Polzeath inflatable, with Rock Lifeboat in attendance, at the time. 1753 Rock Lifeboat called Falmouth Coastguard to say continuing search for two men trapped on rocks. Watchkeeper maintained radio silence to avoid confusion as Harbour Patrol was still on emergency channel using the callsign Stepper Point. RNLI Polzeath inflatable left incident to return casualty to Daymer Bay while Rock Lifeboat and the Harbour Patrol continued searching the cliffs. 18.08 Rock Lifeboat reported to Falmouth Coastguard that there was no sign of men and that it was thought they had scrambled to safety. Falmouth Coastguard thanks Rock Lifeboat and Harbour Patrol for their help and asked them to stand down.
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30 June 2017 - 18:00 Windsurfer seen to fall into water in mid channel.
It became apparent that he had a broken mast and therefore had to swim back to shore. Watchkeeper monitored his progress back to Daymer Bay accompanied by other windsurfers.
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21 May 2017 - 18:05 Person in water
After the watch closed the watchkeeper heard Falmouth Coastguard call the Padstow Ferry on Ch 16 regarding a 999 call reporting a person in the water near Rock Inn. Watchkeeper phoned Falmouth Coastguard who asked us to scan the waterside and report any sighting. After scanning the Rock area the watchkeeper reported nothing seen. At 18.09 Falmouth Coastguard called the Padstow Ferry again to inform them that the person was now out of the water. At 18.10 the watchkeeper informed Falmouth Coastguard that the Lookout was closing.
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8 May 2017 - 08:40 Car Over Cliff
Watchkeeper alerted to an incident involving a car over the cliff into the head of a small sandy inlet just South of Pentireglaze Haven by radio traffic on Ch 00. Car not visible from the Lookout. 15.17 Air Ambulance on Pentireglaze Haven beach with Polzeath cliff rescue team and Rock ILB on scene. 15.22 Fire Service present to aid access to vehicle to free one casualty. 15.27 Casualty out of vehicle. 15.40 Casualty stretchered to ILB with Polzeath RNLI lifeguards assisting. 15.45 Casualty moved by ILB to beach at Pentireglaze Haven. 15.53 Casualty being assessed by Air Ambulance crew before transferring to another stretcher. 16.02 Casualty loaded into helicopter and airlifted to hospital.
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11 Apr 2017 - 13:35 Paddle boarder on King Phillip Rock
Watchkeeper concerned about a paddle boarder on King Phillip Rock, just to the east of Newland Island, so advised Falmouth Coastguard who requested the watchkeeper keep the paddle boarder under surveillance and report safe return. 14:01 Watchkeeper informed Falmouth Coastguard that the paddle boarder was safely back in Hayle Bay.
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8 Apr 2017 - 11:25 Large white container spotted
Large white container spotted drifting at 310 degrees NW of the Lookout approximately 6 NM off. Watchkeeper rang Falmouth Coastguard to inform them and advised them that Pressure Seeker was in the area. Falmouth Coastguard called Pressure Seeker on Ch 16 and asked them to investigate. 12.10 Call from Pressure Seeker to say they had recovered a fridge/freezer and that they would dispose of it. Falmouth Coastguard informed.
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21 Mar 2017 - 12:52 Vessel Drifting into danger
Watchkeeper observed PZ 125 FV 'Patrick' anchored 200 yds South of Pentire Point and that the wind was SW Force 5 Gusting 6. At 13.11 watchkeeper concerned that Patrick was drifting toward Pentire rocks and rang Falmouth Coastguard who said they were aware of the situation. At 13.13 FV 'Autumn Rose' FH 30 crossed datum line heading for Patrick. At 13.17 Falmouth Coastguard rang and asked us to monitor the situation. Rock ILB passed St Saviours Point heading out to incident. At 13.22 Falmouth Coastguard called on Ch 16 for any vessel to assist Patrick. At 13.25 Autumn Rose towed Patrick clear of the rocks - watchkeeper informed Falmouth Coastguard that the situation was under control. At 13.43 Autumn Rose informed Falmouth Coastguard on Ch 16 that they were waiting in the 'narrows' as the bar was too rough to cross but at 13.50 they crossed the West side of the bar and headed for Padstow. It appears that all communication between Patrick and Autumn Rose was conducted by mobile phone!
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26 Feb 2017 - 08:40 Vessel Aground
During the walk up to the Lookout the watchkeeper noticed a vessel high and dry on the spit of sand opposite St Saviour's Point. On arrival at the Lookout, and observing the situation through the binoculars, the watchkeeper could see activity at the vessel suggesting that the harbour authority were well aware of the situation. At about 11.30 the ferry dropped 2 persons off at the vessel and when the tide had risen enough to float it the ferry towed it back to Padstow. It transpired that the 80 tonne former Royal Navy vessel named 'The Appleby', which had been moored at the boat yard, broke its moorings during the overnight gale and drifted downstream onto the sandbank.
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17 Jan 2017- 14:45 Abandoned Surfboard
Falmouth CG rang to say they had a report of an abandoned surf board at Hayle Bay on the beach. Watchkeeper reported that there were approximately 20 surfers in the water and many walkers. He could not see any person in trouble but would keep a watch and report back if anything seen.
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31 Dec 2016 - 09.52 Kayak Lost from view
Red kayak with one male on board seen to go behind Newland Island. 10.20 Kayak had not reappeared and the watchkeeper, being concerned about the man's welfare, telephoned Falmouth CG with the information and told them that fishing vessel 'Reaper' was in the area Falmouth CG called 'Reaper' and requested they check the area on their way in. 10.42 Still no sign of kayak and Falmouth CG trying to make contact on Ch 16. 10.44 Fishing Vessel 'Homarus' joins the search. 10.59 Kayak re-appears heading for the estuary safe and well. Falmouth CG informed and 'Reaper'and 'Homarus' stood down.
