Penarth and Barry Dock RNLI tasked to assist capsized sailing boats
Penarth and Barry Dock lifeboats were tasked last night to reports of capsized sailing boats with people in the water.
Both Penarth’s lifeboats launched soon after 8pm, followed by Barry Dock all-weather lifeboat which was paged by HM Coastguard shortly after 8.20pm. The RNLI volunteers joined HM coastguard rescue helicopter 187 from St Athan and the HM Coastguard Rescue team Penarth in in responding to the incident.
Penarth lifeboats were tasked to assist and recover a number of sailing dinghies that had drifted with the tide beyond Lavernock point as Barry Dock RNLI started a shoreline search of the area between Lavernock Point and Penarth Sea Front. When it was confirmed that all the people were accounted for and were safe and well Barry Dock RNLI volunteers changed course towards a capsized topper that had been seen drifting away from the area with no crew. When Barry Dock RNLI had located the Topper roughly three miles SSE from Sully Island the lifeboat stood by whilst waiting for Penarth's Atlantic 85 (which had already recovered a Laser Sailing Dinghy and taken it ashore by Sully Island) to come and recover it back to Penarth.
For more information contact Andy Berry, Penarth Lifeboat Press Officer on 07951051128 or Ben Phillips, Barry Dock Lifeboat Press Officer on 07712 816756. Alternatively contact Eleri Roberts, RNLI PR Manager on 01745 585162.
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