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The Lizard lifeboat David Robinson was called out on service 10 times during 2003. Here are the brief details of these ‘shouts’ you might imagine the scenes of these sometimes in the dark, in all weather conditions, the noise of the waves, and the relief of those rescued….

11^th April The Hon. Sec. was called by Falmouth coastguard just after midnight about a 12 metre yacht ‘Swift wind’. A net had fouled her propeller. Because of the light wind, lifeboat coxswain Phil Burgess decided to tow the yacht to Port Pendennis marina, where she was left at 0245. The lifeboat was re housed and ready for service again at 0430.

15^th July the Lifeboat was launched to a 9 metre dive boat with gearbox failure, arrived on scene at 0939 and towed the casualty to Newlyn arriving there at 1115. Lifeboat back and ready for service again at 1256.

17^th July A sad story…deputy launching authority Tony Muller was in charge of a launch to recover a body at the foot of cliffs near 'The Rill'. It was thought to have been there for 18 months. After some delay for the Police to attend, the lifeboat was launched at 1810, but after several attempts the recovery was abandoned because of the state of the tide. The Lifeboat returned to station at 2200.

23^rd July A ‘man in the water’ off Cadgwith caused a shout at 1945. ‘He' turned out to be two fisherman’s dann flags ‘waving’ in the water, the lifeboat returned at 2038.

10^th August Nine metre catamaran ‘Los Ninos’ was in difficulties off Lizard Point. Lifeboat on scene at 1945, and second coxswain David Hill went on board the Catamaran to help the lone yachtsman. The catamaran was towed to Falmouth, arriving at 2205.

14^th August An 0553 launch to a 36ft yacht ‘Lerryn Lady’, two people on board, one sea-sick. Towed into Falmouth at 0830. Lifeboat back and ready again at 1030.

17^th August Launch by 1732 to 12 metre yacht ‘Trelise’, with rope around propeller and in danger of drifting onto Black Head. Lifeboat found that the yacht had dropped it’s anchor but the yacht’s crew of two could not recover it. Two of the lifeboat crew boarded to help and the yacht was towed to Falmouth. Back on station at 2110

29^th August called at 0924 to a 12metre multi-hull that had one engine seized up, the other fouled by a sail wrapped round the propeller, the skipper’s wife seasick and the skipper ill, disorientated and having lost his glasses. As coxswain Phil said, not much more could go wrong! Towed into Newlyn, for a quieter tow in very poor conditions. Lifeboat back on station at 1545.

22^nd September launched at 1309 to a 13 metre yacht with 4 people on board, blown out sails and little fuel. Sea rough with north west force 7/8 gale. Towed to Newlyn, back on station at 1824.

23^rd November Lifeboat launched at 0640 to sail training ketch ‘Greater Manchester Challenge’ that had engine failure and nine people on board, many sea-sick. Ketch on passage from Holyhead to Falmouth but could not make way as the tide was setting her back to the south west. Coxswain Phil Burgess asked the ketch to lower it’s sails to enable it to be towed to Falmouth… offer was gratefully accepted. David Robinson back on station at 1215.