THE coastguard has reminded boaters they should use a VHF radio for communication if possible after a vessel with engine problems was towed back to Looe harbour.
The 21’ searay boat with two people on board was reported to Falmouth Coastguard on Thursday evening as drifting 200m east of Looe Island.
Looe RNLI’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat arrived to assist within 20 minutes with Brian Bowdler at the helm and crew Victoria Thomas, Tom Peat and Jack Spree, having been launched by tractor driver Eric Candy and shore crew Mat Jaycock guided by head launcher Nick Pope.
A tow was established and the searay boat was brought to Looe harbour and moored alongside the cement piles where the local boaters managed to restart the engine, said the RNLI’s spokesperson.
’The searay then made its own way up river to her mooring, escorted by our crew on the Atlantic 85 just in case the engine failed again.
’Falmouth Coastguard reported the initial call for assistance came from a mobile phone and they have asked us to remind all boat users that a VHF radio should be the first choice of communication.’