Two service calls on the Bank Holiday Sunday for Beaumaris lifeboat volunteers.

In the first instance the Beaumaris Inshore Atlantic 85 Lifeboat Annette Mary Liddington launched at 6.20 pm to go to the assistance of a bilge keel sailing boat whose engine had failed in the area of the Menai Strait known as the Swillies.

However the craft was located by the lifeboat crew on a mooring near Menai Bridge pier. One of the lifeboat volunteers boarded the vessel but due to the nature of the engine breakdown a temporary repair was not possible.

In view of the fact that one of the crew of the vessel had limited manoeuvrability various option on how to proceed were discussed with the crew of the casualty vessel.

It was decided to tow the vessel to the boatyard at Gallows Point and this was duly undertaken with the Penmon Mobile Coastguard Rescue Team being on the shore at Gallows Point to assist if required, The craft was beached at that location and appropriate bow and stern lines deployed, the crew of the casualty vessel having decided to remain aboard overnight.

As the lifeboat was leaving the U.K Coastguard at Holyhead tasked them to go to the assistance of another sailing craft that was caught on a mooring near the Gazelle Hotel opposite Bangor Pier.

Once on scene two lifeboat volunteers boarded the casualty and eventually managed to cut the obstruction caught on the keel shoe sufficient so as to clear the propeller and rudder.

This enabled the craft escorted by the lifeboat to make her own way to Gallows Point. The lifeboat then returned to her station at Beaumaris arriving back at 8.55 pm being refuelled and ready by 9.32 pm.

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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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

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