Rhyl RNLI volunteers assist yacht with rope round rudder off Rhyl.

The yacht had inadvertently sailed over the buoys and pick-up line of a row of whelk pots, and had become fixed to the spot. The skipper contacted the UK Coastguard at Holyhead to ask for assistance, who paged the Rhyl lifeboat crew to assist. It was decided to launch the All-weather lifeboat The Lincolnshire Poacher, on temporary relief duty at Rhyl, as the weather had deteriorated and the boat was being rocked about.
The crew were on scene within five minutes of launching, and the lifeboat was manoeuvred near to the yacht. However, as the boat was tied at the stern, the yacht was lurching and it was difficult to get alongside. A crew member volunteered to go into the water and try to free the line. The lifeboat got close enough to the yacht, and the crew member swam the few yards to the yacht.
After a few minutes the line was cut free, and the skipper then regained full control. The lifeboat picked up the crew member and then escorted the yacht into Rhyl harbour, where it was safely moored. The lifeboat returned to station at 3.15pm, waiting in the harbour until there was sufficient beach to recover the lifeboat.
Paul Frost, duty coxswain on the lifeboat says ' We advise all people sailing off Rhyl, that there are lines of whelk pots from the harbour to Garford road, just outside of the low water mark. The lines are marked with two white buoys and are about 150m apart. All sea-goers must be aware of this potential hazard when off Rhyl'.

Key facts about the RNLI

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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