Two volunteer RNLI lifeboat crews faced difficult conditions last Thursday when they worked to bring home a broken fishing boat off The Lizard.

The 20-metre Joy of Ladram had suffered gear box failure 33 miles due south of Lizard Point and was at the mercy of the elements.

She was initially helped by The Lizard RNLI lifeboat team who then passed the tow on to the Penlee crew, who took her in to Newlyn.

The Lizard volunteers were the first to respond to their pagers at 4.15pm. Within 90 minutes they had found the boat, arriving on Tamar class all-weather lifeboat Rose, and took the Newlyn-based gill netter in tow.

Conditions were demanding, with a southerly wind of force six to seven and a “lumpy” sea.

The team from Penlee lifeboat station, onboard the Severn class all-weather lifeboat Ivan Ellen, then launched at 9pm, meeting up with The Lizard lifeboat just after 10pm four miles south west of Lizard Point.

The tow was transferred and the Penlee team headed back to Newlyn, towing the fishing vessel, arriving at 1am.

Patch Harvey, RNLI Coxswain at Penlee lifeboat station, said it was a good example of RNLI teamwork, adding: “Both lifeboat teams did a good job in tricky conditions.

“The big lumpy sea and strong winds made it really uncomfortable getting to the point where we met up with The Lizard lifeboat, but between us we were able to assist the fishing vessel and the five crew onboard, and get them safely in to port for repairs.

“It was a good call by Falmouth coastguard to call The Lizard out to start the tow and then for us to take her in to our home port and it meant the volunteer crews could share the work and the time spent at sea overnight.”