Yacht and lone sailor rescued by Porthdinllaen RNLI lifeboat.
On Tuesday 11 June at 10:35am, Porthdinllaen`s all-weather lifeboat launched to a lone sailor in difficulties off Trefor Breakwater.
On route to Trefor, the volunteer lifeboat crew with second Coxswain Robert Jones at the helm, received more information from UK Coastguard that the 24 foot yacht, which was on passage from Conwy to Trefor had fouled her propeller and although she had deployed her anchor, this was now dragging with the yacht perilously close to the shoreline.
Upon arrival at the location, it became apparent that quick action was needed to save the vessel from running aground. The surrounding sea was choppy and the yacht itself was lying in less than two metres of water with the breaking sea pushing her closer to shore. Due to the shallowness of the sea near the yacht, the lifeboat was unable to get alongside. Thanks to the quick thinking and action of the lifeboat crew in veering a heaving line downwind and attached to a fender, they were able to transfer a towing rope to the yacht. This was quickly secured by the sailor enabling the lifeboat to tow the vessel to safer water.
Due to the yacht being unable to free her propeller, it was decided that the safest and best course of action was to tow the stricken yacht to Porthdinllaen inner harbour where she was placed on a safe mooring.
The lifeboat was refueled and ready for service by 1:15pm.
Ken Fitzpatrick, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Porthdinllaen said: 'The quick action of the volunteer crew today saved a life and avoided what could have resulted in damage to the yacht with breaking seas driving her ashore. Our volunteer crew train weekly and prepare themselves for such scenarios and I thank them for such a fantastic job today'.
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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