Holyhead and Trearddur Bay Called To Stricken Yacht
Both Holyhead and Trearddur Bay RNLI crews were called out today (Monday 28 June) to assist a vessel in trouble, just off the rocky headland known as ‘The Fangs / Penrhyn Mawr, near South Stack.
Pagers sounded just after 5pm, with HM coastguard citing a 36ft yacht, with three people on board, whose propeller had become entangled, leaving her struggling near the treacherous coastline.
Trearddur Bay launched their Atlantic 85-class lifeboat, Hereford Endeavour, while Holyhead’s all-weather lifeboat, Christopher Pearce, simultaneously set off from her berth in Holyhead Port.
Trearddur Bay were on scene first, and began assessing the situation. Holyhead’s Severn-class arrived shortly after, and both lifeboat crews began working together to assist the yacht and her occupants. Local charter fishing vessel My Way II had been standing by the stricken vessel until the RNLI crews reached the location. The local volunteer coastguard rescue team from Holyhead were also in attendance, in case they were required, but all three sailors were declared fit and well.
It was quickly decided that the best course of action was for the larger lifeboat to undertake a tow of the yacht, and escort her to Holyhead harbour. The lifeboat volunteers worked together to ensure a safe tow was established, and once this was carried out successfully, just after 6pm, Trearddur Bay crew left the scene and returned to their station.
The Holyhead lifeboat crew then carried out an astern-tow and headed back to Holyhead. On entering the inner harbour, the position was changed to an alongside tow, and the vessels arrived back at Holyhead Marina at 7.15pm. Once the casualty craft was safely back to shore, the lifeboat then headed back to her berth in the inner port where she was prepared for further calls.
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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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