On June 13, a yacht was found grounded on the rocks at Chapel Point, near the southern entrance to the English Channel, with its sails still raised but no one on board. The report reached HM Coastguard’s Mevagissey station at approximately 20:15, prompting an immediate search and rescue operation.
HM Coastguard and RNLI crews boarded the vessel wearing dry suits for protection but found it completely empty, triggering a full-scale land and sea search under the coordination of the Falmouth Coastguard station.
Search teams included RNLI lifeboats from Falmouth and Fowey, Devon and Cornwall Police, RNLI’s Looe Rescue Station, a coastguard helicopter, and a fixed-wing aircraft. The Fowey lifeboat crew spent over 10 hours at sea, scanning up to 25 nautical miles from the home port along the route between Chapel Point and the Lizard Peninsula.
The shoreline search concluded on Saturday, while the offshore efforts continued until 06:30 the following morning. Authorities have not released further details at this stage.
“We ask the public to consider the families and friends of those involved and to refrain from speculation online until the facts are known,” stated HM Coastguard Mevagissey.
