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Mumbles lifeboat called to mid channel rescue

Lifeboats News Release

At 2 am this morning the volunteer crew of the Mumbles All Weather lifeboat were paged to aid a dis-masted yacht.

RNLI/James Bolter

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The yacht had become dis-masted with 4 crew on board midway between Ilfracombe and Swansea. 'One of the crew was suffering sea sickness but their symptoms eased once we got under way' said Deputy second coxswain James Bolter. ' we were on scene within an half an hour. It was pretty tricky locating them as they lost use of the main radio when the mast came down but the skipper had the foresight to have a hand held VHF too. The crew of the yacht had managed to free the mast, not an easy task in 30 knots of wind. Both boats made their way back to Swansea and the lifeboat was re-housed and ready for service at 6am.
We have to commend the skipper of the 9 metre yacht for calling for assistance rather than trying to make way with a dangerous sea and damaged rigging. We also are grateful for the offer of assistance from the Training Ship Lord Nelson and the yacht May contain nuts which was making passage in the area at the time'.


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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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