Heavy rainfall throughout last year led to a fall in shouts for Cornish lifeguards and lifeboats, with the RNLI attributing the drop to 2012 being the second wettest year on record.

The charity's lifeguards were still kept busy across the 57 beaches in Cornwall that they patrol, but the 6,137 incidents they were called to deal with was 1,949 less than last year and 1,676 less than in 2010.

Perranporth was the busiest beach in the whole of the South West with 615 incidents attended, while the second busiest was North Fistral near Newquay with 394.

There were fewer lifeboat launches in Falmouth and Sennen Cove in 2012 than in any of the previous four years - although the crews were still at sea for a combined 1,448 hours - and Newquay Lifeboat Station saw their second quietest year in that same timeframe.

St Ives lifeboat crews, on the other hand, were called out to assist more people that in any other year in the past half a decade and spent a total of 351 hours at sea, assisting 32 people.

At The Lizard there were ten launches to help a total of 12 people after 366 hours at sea and at Penlee 69 people were helped out after 61 launches with 460 hours at sea.

Andy Hurley, regional operations manager for the RNLI, said: “The figures illustrate just how dedicated our volunteer crews and our lifeguards are, giving a huge amount of time to saving lives at sea and I thank them and their families for their continuing commitment.

“I would also like to thank all those who support our charity because their donations ensure our teams have the best training and equipment.

“Call outs to sailing and power boats with machinery failure are still our core business in the South West, but I'm delighted to say the numbers are down which I hope means our prevention messages are getting through to people before they go onto the water.

“However we have seen a rise in the number of fishing boats needing our assistance and in rescues of people ashore, that's folk who are perhaps injured, trapped or cut off by the tide around the sea shore and cliffs.”

Despite the poor weather lifeguards have been busy, Andy said, though the figure of 11,670 people assisted was “relatively small” when compared to the estimated nine and half million people that visited lifeguarded beaches in the South West last year.

The RNLI's annual “SOS Day” fundraising drive will take place this Friday.
 

Lifeboat launch statistics:
 

Newquay – 56 launches/44 people assisted/299 hours at sea/20 services in the dark

2008 - 76 launches/35 people assisted
2009 - 55 launches/24 people assisted
2010 - 77 launches/77 people assisted
2011 - 102 launches/92 people assisted

Total for five years – 366 launches/272 assisted

Falmouth – 82 launches (31 all weather lifeboat and 51 inshore lifeboat)/65 people assisted/1,023 hours at sea/39 services in dark 

2008 – 104 launches/113 assisted
2009 – 102 launches/93 assisted
2010 – 72 launches/75 assisted
2011 -  93 launches/85 assisted

Total for five years – 453 launches/431 assisted

Fowey – 54 launches (30 all weather lifeboat and 24 inshore lifeboat)/42 people assisted/717 hours at sea/21 services in dark  

2008 – 47 launches/62 assisted
2009 – 44 launches/28 assisted
2010 – 38 launches/41 assisted
2011 -  57 launches/42 assisted

Total for five years – 240 launches/215 assisted

Penlee – 61 launches (27 all weather lifeboat and 34 inshore lifeboat)/69 people assisted/460 hours at sea/15 services in dark  

2008 – 58 launches/46 assisted
2009 – 54 launches/63 assisted
2010 – 67 launches/73 assisted
2011 – 54 launches/31 assisted

Total for five years – 294 launches/282 assisted

Looe – 44 launches/39 people assisted/332 hours at sea/14 services in dark

2008 – 34 launches/28 assisted
2009 – 34 launches/24 assisted
2010 – 49 launches/33 assisted
2011 -  40 launches/34 assisted

Total for five years – 201 launches/158 assisted

St Ives – 32 launches (16 all weather lifeboat and 16 inshore lifeboat)/32 people assisted/351 hours at sea/14 services in dark

2008 – 26 launches/15 assisted
2009 – 31 launches/19 assisted
2010 – 34 launches/30 assisted
2011 – 30 launches/24 assisted

Total for five years – 153 launches/120 assisted

Sennen Cove – 19 launches (16 all weather lifeboat 3 inshore lifeboat)/21 people assisted/425 hours at sea/7 services in dark

2008 – 33 launches/65 assisted
2009 – 26 launches/28 assisted
2010 – 24 launches/36 assisted
2011 – 28 launches/39 assisted

Total for five years – 130 launches/189 assisted

Padstow – 17 launches/31 people assisted/492 hours at sea/7 services in the dark

2008 – 14 launches/28 assisted
2009 – 17 launches/16 assisted
2010 – 9 launches/14 assisted
2011 – 17 launches/22 assisted

Total for five years – 74 launches/111 assisted

Rock – 21 launches/8 people assisted/226 hours at sea/9 services in the dark

2008 – 7 launches/7 assisted
2009 – 25 launches/19 assisted
2010 – 25 launches/18 assisted
2011 – 13 launches/14 assisted

Total for five years – 91 launches/66 assisted

The Lizard – 10 launches/12 people assisted/366 hours at sea/3 services in the dark

2008 – 5 launches/9 assisted
2009 – 10 launches/16 assisted
2010 – 11 launches/17 assisted
2011 -  11 launches/20 assisted

Total for five years – 47 launches/74 assisted

St Mary’s – 15 launches/27 people assisted/556 hours at sea/9 services in the dark

2008 – 6 launches/15 assisted
2009 – 9 launches/21 assisted
2010 – 8 launches/10 assisted
2011 – 11 launches/6 assisted

Total for five years – 49 launches/79 assisted

St Agnes – 18 launches/9 people assisted/127 hours at sea/5 services in the dark

2008 – 6 launches/1 assisted
2009 – 16 launches/3 assisted
2010 – 15 launches/0 assisted
2011 – 7 launches/0 assisted

Total for five years – 62 launches/13 assisted

Port Isaac – 12 launches/6 assisted/99 hours at sea/2 services in the dark

2008 – 5 launches/2 assisted
2009 – 12 launches/9 assisted
2010 – 6 launches/3 assisted
2011 – 6 launches/14 assisted

Total for five years – 41 launches/34 assisted

Bude – 4 launches/2 assisted/94 hours at sea/1 service in the dark

2008  - 10 launches/11 assisted
2009 – 13 launches/7 assisted
2010 – 11 launches/0 assisted
2011 – 5 launches/2 assisted

Total for five years – 43 launches   22 assisted


Lifeguard statistics

In 2012, RNLI lifeguards were on 57 beaches in Cornwall. They dealt with 6,137 incidents, assisted 6,888 and saved 24 lives

In 2011 they dealt with 8,086 incidents, assisted 8,943 people and saved 39 lives.

In 2010 they dealt with 7,813 incidents assisted 8,829 people and saved 39 lives.

As usual the busiest beach wasw Perranporth where lifeguards dealt with 615 incidents followed by North Fistral with 394 incidents and then Gwithian with 353 incidents

Bude, six beaches (Black Rock, Crooklets, Northcott, Sandymouth, Summerleaze and Widemouth), 359 incidents, assisted 455 people and saved 3 lives (2011 - 539 incidents, 679 people aided, 3 lives saved. 2010 - dealt with 367 incidents, assisted 447 people and saved 2 lives) 

Caradon, four beaches (Freathy, Sharrow, Tregantle, Treganhawke) 150 incidents, assisted 188 people and saved 1 life (2011 - 183 incidents, assisted 310 people and saved 1 life. 2010 - dealt with 210 incidents, assisted 321 people)

Carrick, seven beaches (Chapel Porth, Gyllynvase, Holywell, Perran Sands, Perranporth, Porthtowan, St Agnes) 1,444 incidents, assisted 1,631 people and saved 6 lives (2011 - 2,210 incidents, assisted 2,406 people and saved 16 lives. 2010 - 2,074 incidents, assisted 2,362 people and saved 9 lives)

Kerrier, seven beaches (Gunwalloe, Kennack Sands, Poldhu Cove, Polurrian Cove Porthleven, Portreath, Praa Sands), 303 incidents, assisted 319 people and saved 1 life (2011 - 325 incidents, assisted 346 people. 2010 - 353 incidents, assisted 382 people and saved 2 lives)

North Cornwall, nine beaches (Booby’s, Constantine, Crackington Haven, Harlyn, Polzeath, Porthcothan, Trebarwith, Trevone, Treyarnon) 868 incidents, assisted 972 people and saved 3 lives. (2011 - 893 incidents, assisted 1,057 people, saved 7 lives. 2010 - 927 incidents, assisted 1,110 people and saved 3 lives)

Penwith, fifteen beaches (Beach View, Carbis Bay, Godrevy, Gwithian, Gwynver, Hayle Towans, Marazion, Mexico Towans, Peters Point, Porthcurno, Porthkidney, Porthmeor, Porthminster, Sennen, Upton Towans) 1,554 incidents, assisted 1,726 people and saved 6 lives. (2011 - 1,967 incidents, aided 2,138 people and saved 8 lives. 2010 - 2,310 incidents, assisted 2,477 people and saved 15 lives)

Restormel, nine beaches (Crantock, Great Western, Mawgan Porth, North Fistral, Porth, South Fistral, Tolcarne, Towan, Watergate Bay) 1,459 incidents, assisted 1597 people and saved 4 lives. (2011 - 1,869 incidents, aided 2,007 people and saved 4 lives. 2010 - 1,573 incidents, assisted 1,731 people and saved 8 lives)