C class inflatable lands 112 passengers St Ives - South West Division The St Ives C class inflatable lifeboat can lay claim to some sort of a record after she ferried no less than 112 people ashore from local pleasure boats in a single service on 21 August 1989.

Despite the very light wind and fair weather a heavy ground swell built up rapidly on a falling tide, preventing six local boats from landing their passengers safely.

The crew of the lifeboat realised that the situation was becoming difficult and, with a number of elderly people and young children aboard the boats and the swell too heavy for dinghies, it was decided to launch the lifeboat to take the passengers off.

The service lasted for some two-and-a-half hours, the C class launching at 1155 and returning to station at 1430, and during that time the inflatable was busy making numerous trips to and from the shore.

One of the woman passengers was very seasick and fainted before being taken to hospital by ambulance, but the remaining 111 people were none the worse for their unexpected rescue by lifeboat..