Lifeboat in nine-hour yacht rescue

The RNLI Tamar class lifeboat 'City of London III' in rough seas. The orange and black lifeboat riding the waves.Image source, RNLI/Timothy Stevens
Image caption,

The RNLI Tamar class lifeboat City of London III on a previous mission

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A yacht has been towed to safety after getting into difficulty off the north Cornwall coast.

The nine-hour operation involved the RNLI Sennen Cove lifeboat, which assisted the yacht, which had two people on board.

Rescuers described the conditions as "very challenging" with rough seas and winds of up to 60mph (97km/h).

They said the tow-line that linked the lifeboat and the yacht parted twice during the passage to Newlyn harbour, and had to be reconnected.

Image source, RNLI/Timothy Stevens
Image caption,

RNLI Sennen Cove duty coxswain Kirstan Gorvin was on board

The RNLI Tamar class lifeboat City of London III launched just after 23:00 BST on Thursday, with duty coxswain Kirstan Gorvin and six volunteer crew on board.

The lifeboat used its radar to help find the yacht about 10 miles (16km) north of Pendeen lighthouse.

Both vessels arrived in Newlyn at 07:00 on Friday.

The yacht was safely tied up while the lifeboat returned to Sennen Cove, arriving just after 08:00.