Yacht in Distress Rescued By Holyhead RNLI
Holyhead RNLI volunteers were called out earlier today (Sunday 21 August) to assist a 10-metre sailing vessel, in trouble between North and South Stack, off the Anglesey coast.
The yacht’s propeller had become entangled with rope, and the two people on board called HM Coastguard and asked for help, as they were adrift near a precariously rocky piece of coastline.
The launch of Holyhead’s all-weather lifeboat Christopher Pearce was requested shortly before 12.30pm. The Severn-class was launched 15 minutes later, and headed towards the scene.
On arriving at the location, the lifeboat volunteers discovered that a nearby vessel had heard the call for help, and diverted from their passage to the Isle of Man to ensure all was well with the stricken yacht. They had attached a line to the yacht in order to prevent it drifting further.
Holyhead’s inshore lifeboat Mary and Archie Hooper then joined the scene, having already been out attending an event at Llanfwrog for safety support. The good Samaritan vessel then left the scene to carry on her passage.
Both lifeboats then proceeded to work together to establish a tow from the all-weather lifeboat, with ILB crew boarding the stricken yacht to assist with deck work and attachment of the tow. The vessel was then towed into the safety of Holyhead harbour. In the outer harbour, the tow was transferred to the inshore lifeboat, and the yacht was brought safely to her mooring at Porth-y-Felin.
Once secured, the inshore lifeboat returned to the lifeboat station. The Christopher Pearce headed back to her berth in the inner port. Both lifeboats were then made ready for any further calls by 2.30pm
Holyhead RNLI mechanic, and duty coxswain on the call, Ian James said:
‘The casualties did exactly the right thing calling for help. The rocky coastline in that area can be treacherous, and as the vessel was drifting, they could have ended up in even greater difficulty. They were well-equipped and wearing lifejackets, and were unlucky to experience the issues they did with the propeller.’
He added:
‘We’d also like to send our thanks to the crew of the other vessel, who diverted their course and delayed their journey to help fellow sailors in trouble. We were relieved all was well when we arrived, and we were able to bring them back to safety without any further issues.’
For further information, please contact Vicki Owens, Holyhead Lifeboat Station Press Officer, on 07531 681409, or email [email protected]
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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