TWO BOATS AT SEA FOR A TOTAL OF 13 HOURS Escort for listing cargo boat in 70 knot winds Sennen Cove and Clovelly - South West Division Sennen Cove's relief Rother The Davys Family was launched in winds gusting up to 71 knots on 25 March 1988 when the 300-ton Cyprus-registered cargo vessel Retriever was reported to have a 20 degree list in a position four miles to the east of the Seven Stones Lightvessel. Clovelly's relief 70ft Clyde Charles H. Barren was also later involved in the service.Launching at 0505 from Sennen The Davys Family reached the casualty just over an hour later, with the wind Force 10 from the west and seas about 20ft high.

The Dutch cargo vessel Eendracht had also responded to the distress call and was standing by when the lifeboat arrived.

In view of the weather and Retriever s predicament, found to be caused by a leak, it was decided that a northerly course would be prudent. The lifeboat began to escort the listing vessel in this direction in the very heavy weather, and released her at 0815 in a safe position nine miles north of Godrevy Lighthouse.

Shelter Eendracht had also been released and the casualty was able to proceed on her own, so The Davys Family made for the shelter of St Ives Bay to await better rehousing conditions at Sennen. She was finally re-housed at 1400 after nearly nine hours at sea.

Retriever and her six crew were met by Clovelly's relief Clyde at 1520, when she was some six miles west of Hartland Point, and escorted to the safety of an anchorage in Lundy Roads. The wind was still near-gale, with a very rough sea and 10ft swell, but had veered to west by north. Charles H. Barratt was released at 1700 and returned to her mooring at 1800, after four hours at sea..