St Davids RNLI launch to stricken yacht drifting in gale force winds
St Davids RNLI lifeboat volunteers were paged at 10am on Sunday morning (10 April) tasked to a 36ft yacht with three persons onboard.
The yacht was suffering with engine failure, low electrical power and problems with her sails.
The casualty was located nine miles north west of St Davids Head, drifting in a north westerly direction at six knots in a force seven south easterly wind, gusting to gale eight at times.
In these tricky conditions the crew managed to secure a tow and start the long journey to Fishguard Harbour.
Fishguard ILB was tasked to help the crew of the yacht moor their vessel in the harbour because the were suffering with fatigue.
Once the vessel was safely moored and the crew were ashore, the St Davids RNLI volunteer crew were realised from service and headed back to station.
The Tyne class all-weather lifeboat Garside was re-housed, re-fuelled and ready for service at 5.30pm -some seven-and-a-half hours after the pagers sounded.
Notes to editors:
The attached picture shows the broken down yacht in the rough conditions and high winds. Credit RNLI/St Davids
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For more information or to request an interview please contact Chris Cousens, RNLI Press Officer, Wales and West, on 01745 585162 or 07748 265496 or by email on [email protected].
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