Llandudno RNLI late night rescue of motor cruiser

The 35' single-engined steel cruiser Windy Anna with two men and a dog on board had attempted to tie up at Llandudno pier.  After striking the structure a number of times, in the process damaging the vessel, the craft's skipper had tried to moor at a jetty marker post, only to be directed away seawards by coastguards ashore.  At this point he called the coastguard by mobile phone to ask for help.

As a result, Llandudno's Mersey-class lifeboat Andy Pearce launched at 12.40am, reaching the cruiser within minutes.  Due to the casualty vessel's erratic movement, the lifeboat had to make a number of attempts before an RNLI crewman could be successfully transferred aboard to take command.  It transpired the two sailors had been at sea for some 15 hours and were heading for Bristol.  Their original port of departure remains unknown.

With the RNLI lifeboat in close attendance the motor cruiser was then taken round Great Orme's Head, into the River Conwy thence to the safety of Conwy marina.  The lifeboat then returned to Llandudno for recovery, refuelling and preparation for further service, all of which was completed by 4am.

An RNLI Llandudno spokesman later said:

'Given the erratic nature of the motor cruiser's progress, the heavy swell and the stiff onshore breeze, there can be little doubt that but for the timely assistance of the lifeboat the vessel would have been driven through the surf onto the beach, or onto the rocks of the Great Orme coastline, with the inevitable serious danger to the men on board.'

Notes to Editor
The lifeboat alongside the motor cruiser during the rescue operation.

Media Contacts
Further information - Alan Sharp, Llandudno Lifeboat Press Officer    01492.543315.

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