South East Cornwall was left with a major clear up operation this week as force twelve gales brought destruction and damage to harbour towns. Saltash and Torpoint were badly hit by the high winds as expensive yachts were ripped from moorings and damaged in gales last weekend. Emergency services dealt with numerous incidents, including a 65-year-old man who had got in difficulty attempting to get to his moored yacht during storms on Saturday evening. A 30ft yacht also sunk after it crashed into the Torpoint Ferry. The same night a 28ft red yacht washed up at Torpoint and lifeboat crews went to a yacht named Dolce Bella after the owner had got into difficulties and called mayday after 5am on Sunday. 'It was horrendous,' said Alan Town, who is a maintenance worker at Torpoint Harbour, 'I have not seen weather like this since 1989.' Nigel Bunker of Tamar Coastguards admitted it was a busy night for the coastguard team. Serious The nine volunteer coastguards had to deal with eight serious incidents in winds of up to 105mph and at one point they came into some difficulty themselves after a fallen tree struck their recovery vehicle. A crane was brought into the Waterside at Saltash to clear damage the following day. The Highways Department of Cornwall County Council was also left clearing up fallen trees earlier this week after receiving more than 500 calls regarding storm damage.