Yacht towed to safety by Porthdinllaen RNLI lifeboat

The yacht, which was on passage to Caernarfon, suffered engine failure and there was no wind for sail power on Caernarfon Bar near Llanddwyn Island. The vessel requested assistance by contacting UK Coastguard.

Porthdinllaen RNLI's all-weather Tamar Class lifeboat John D Spicer was launched at 8pm and was alongside the yacht called Swanrad within 35 minutes.

A tow line was passed to the yacht and secured and the lifeboat proceeded with the yacht in tow towards Caernarfon.

After arriving at Aberforeshore near Caernafon's Slate Quay access point, a suitable courtesy mooring was found and the Swanrad was safely secured at 10.15pm.

The lifeboat returned to station and was refueled ready for service by 11.20pm.
Kenneth Fitzpatrick, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Porthdinllaen RNLI, said: 'The crew of the yacht were correct in calling for assistance as the entrance to the Menai Straits near Llanddwyn is difficult to navigate with narrow channels and strong currents and with the loss of their engine and no wind for sail power, the crew of the the yacht had no option.'

Media contacts:

For more information please contact Dylan Thomas, Portdinllaen Talbot RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer, on 07747 600019 or Chris Cousens, RNLI Press Officer, Wales and West, on 07748 265496 or 01745 585162 or by email on [email protected]

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The RNLI charity 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 146,000 lives.

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