Three shouts on Bank Holiday Saturday for Beaumaris lifeboat volunteers.

The first incident related to a 45-foot yacht which had a broken mast that which had fallen over the side of the vessel. The Beaumaris Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Annette Mary Liddington with her volunteer crew, being requested to ascertain the situation.

Once at the scene and having ensured that all was well with the four male and two female adults on the vessel. An assessment was made by the lifeboat helm in consultation with the Coastguard, and due to the size of the mast in the water, the larger offshore Moelfre lifeboat was requested to launch to assist. Whilst awaiting the arrival of the Moelfre Lifeboat another tasking came in for the Beaumaris craft.

In this second incident a 30-foot vessel with two adults and one child aboard had a rope around her propellor and being situated in the main channel was creating a navigation hazard. In addition, a further vessel that had gone to assist the first boat had damaged their propellor on the anchor chain of the original vessel. Fortunately a third boat had arrives at the scene and It was decided that due to the location of the vessels in the narrow navigable access channel on the Menai Strait for safety reasons, the boats would be towed one by the lifeboat the other by the third craft being towed to the nearest safe haven for them this was the marina at Conwy.

At 7.51 pm a further tasking request was received from H.M. Coastguard his time to a 19-foot speedboat with one adult and two children aboard but with no anchor drifting in the Menai Strait. The craft was located by Plas Newydd and in view if the danger to other vessels in the narrow navigable channel. An assessment was made by the lifeboat helm in consultation with the Coastguard, and it was decided to tow the vessel to safety of a mooring at Y Felinheli

Once this task had been completed the lifeboat was released by the Coastguard to return to her station, arriving at 8.50 pm to be refuelled and cleaned. Once this had been completed the crew left the station at 9.30 pm.

A RNLI spokesperson said: ‘The boat crews did the correct thing in alerting the Coastguard to their predicament. This meant our volunteer lifeboat crew were able to reach each casualty quickly, assess the situation and take the best course of action to prevent the situation worsening. We would recommend that lifejackets be worn by everyone aboard whilst on a boat at sea and anchors be carried on all boats.’

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

John Pulford, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI Wales & West, [email protected]

Claire Fitzpatrick-Smith, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Wales, West of England and Isle of Man, 07977 728 315, [email protected]

Danielle Rush, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Wales, West of England and Isle of Man, 07786 668829, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,700 lives.

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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

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