Four sailing boats A NEAR GALE WAS BLOWING from the north when, at 1055 on Thursday, September 2, information was received that a catamaran was burning a red flare off St Ives Harbour entrance.

Visibility was only moderate, it was high water and the sea was very rough. At that time there were four boats anchored in the harbour approaches, the catamaran, a trimaran and two yachts.

The 37' Oakley lifeboat Frank Pen/old Marshall was launched within ten minutes and, upon reaching the catamaran, Rakar, some five minutes later, found that her moorings line had parted, her anchor was fouled and her engine had failed. Frank Penfold Marshall made fast a line on Rakar which, having cast off her anchor warp and with her crew of three still on board, was towed to the safety of the harbour.

Frank Penfold Marshall then returned to the trimaran, Kon-Tina of Los Angeles, also with three people on board.She had lost her rudder and had a rope around her propeller. Two members of the lifeboat crew were put aboard to help clear her ropes and anchor and she was then towed into harbour.

At this time concern was felt for the yacht Sundancer, in rather a poor anchorage north east of the pier. Frank Penfold Marshall approached her and advised her to enter harbour. Conditions were by now very poor and two lifeboatmen were put aboard to help her crew get the anchor and make harbour.

She was escorted by the lifeboat.

Upon completion of this task, the fourth boat in the anchorage, the yacht Yosemitte, was found to have a rope around her propeller and she also was escorted to the safety of the harbour.

Frank Penfold Marshall was finally recovered and rehoused at 1700..