Yacht breaks up at Kennack Sands (From Boating Cornwall)

Yacht breaks up at Kennack Sands

3:54pm Monday 29th June 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

A man lost his home and the majority of his belongings yesterday when his yacht sunk at Kennack Sands on the Lizard Peninsula.

The father and his heavily pregnant daughter were sailing from Helford back to Fowey when the 30ft yacht came too close to the beach and ran aground. By Monday morning the boat had broken up.

Coastguards stood watch of the boat throughout Sunday night, to make sure that nothing was taken from what was left of the battered yacht.

Villagers had been helping the father and daughter salvage what they could, while both cafe owners at the beach – Julie Jose and Tony Roberts – took care of the shocked pair and gave them cups of tea.

Fred Caygall, spokesman for Falmouth coastguards, said: “It was particularly sad as I believe it was their home.”

He added that there had been south easterly wind at the time, which was pushing swell down the England Channel.

The initial call was made by the RNLI lifeguards on the beach, who saw it creeping too close to the land.

The coastguard station in Falmouth called out Porthoustock coastguard volunteers, who helped rescue the pair.

Coastguard officer Bill Penman then took the pair in overnight, so they had somewhere to stay.

A member of the public who saw the drama unfold said: “Efforts were made to try and keep the yacht off the rocks, but it was already holed and full of water. It became a total wreck.”

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)