Barmouth RNLI lifeboats launch to yacht caught in bridge.
Barmouth RNLI lifeboats launch to yacht caught in bridge.
Lifeboats News Release
At 6.29pm on the evening of Monday 21 August Barmouth RNLI volunteer crew were paged by the UK Coastguard to launch both lifeboats to a 34ft yacht which had broken it’s moorings and ended up caught in Barmouth bridge.
The inshore lifeboat was quickly launched to assess the scene and confirm if any persons were on board, the all-weather lifeboat was launched shortly after at 6.45pm. It was quickly determined that there were no persons thought to be on board in the casualty vessel.
Given that there was thought to be no persons onboard, a fast flowing incoming tide, and the fact the yacht was wedged fast into the bridge, the decision was made to stand-off until after high water at 8.55pm.
Cables from the yacht were caught up in the bridge meaning any recovery had to be taken slowly and in a manner as to not endanger the volunteer crew or the bridge itself. During the assessing of the most opportune moment to move the yacht, both lifeboat crews liaised with both the harbourmaster and Barmouth Coastguard Team who were on the bridge and able to pass on information on how the yacht was caught up in the bridge’s structure.
At 9.43pm the mast on the casualty vessel broke under the pressure of the changing tide. This released the yacht from the bridge. This meant the inshore lifeboat could guide the vessel away from further damage to a safe location.
Both lifeboats were back on station and ready for service by 11.15pm.
Notes to editors:
For more information please telephone Jamie Tyrrell, Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer on 07816 224045 or [email protected]
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.
