Mechanical issues with the anchor and incoming poor weather resulted in a yacht being recovered by Falmouth lifeboat on Wednesday afternoon.

HM Coastguard requested the launch of Falmouth’s all-weather lifeboat to assist a ketch anchored in Falmouth Bay that was having difficulty raising its anchor due to mechanical issues with its windlass.

There were also concerns about the welfare of the yacht’s crew due to the poor weather forecast.

The Severn class lifeboat Richard Cox Scott arrived on scene at 4.42pm where they found the Falmouth Boat Construction RIB (rigid inflatable boat) in attendance.

Falmouth coxswain Jonathon Blakeston said: "This was a relatively straightforward service but I would like to thank the Falmouth Boat Construction RIB for the support they gave."

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Due to very poor communications with the yacht's skipper, a lifeboat crew member was transferred to the ketch to assist.

A towline was attached and a manual recovery of the anchor started.

Once this was completed and the anchor stowed, the lifeboat towed the yacht to a safe mooring in Falmouth Harbour.

The lifeboat was under the command of coxswain Jonathon Blakeston with crew members Tom Bird, Jamie Wakefield, Will Allen, Andy Edwards, Joe Amps and James Murray.