
Both Rhyl RNLI lifeboats diverted from exercise on two days at the weekend .
The Coxswain at Rhyl had organised launches on both days of the weekend of 20 and 21 May, to bring the volunteer crews up to date on their training schedules. Having nearly 40 crew members on the books, the glorious weather provided an opportunity for crew to be passed out as qualified.
However, things did not actually go to plan on both days!
On Saturday 20 May, at about 10am, the inshore lifeboat crew came across a small boat trying to get another boat off the rocks at the entrance to Rhyl harbour. The two boats were tied together, but the line was caught on the pole marking the river entrance. The crew assisted both boats to get free, and the original casualty boat then started their outboard engine and went safely back to Rhyl harbour, escorted by the inshore lifeboat. At 11.29am, the lifeboats were paged to assist a small day boat off Prestatyn, which was having engine problems. The all-weather lifeboat was diverted from exercise and the inshore lifeboat proceeded. As both boats arrived on scene, another leisure boat from Prestatyn had taken the casualty vessel in tow, and so the lifeboats were stood down and returned to their exercise.
As the all-weather lifeboat was proceeding towards Llandudno to meet Moelfre, Holyhead coastguard reported they had received an emergency signal from an EPIRB (emergency position indicating radio beacon) around the Puffin island area. Beaumaris lifeboat was also launched. As the boats were nearing the site, the coastguard were contacted by the owner to say the beacon was activated in error, and the emergency was cancelled. All lifeboats then carried on with their previous tasks.
At 5.38pm, both boats were again paged to assist a small day boat off Rhyl which had engine problems and no anchor. The inshore boat launched first to investigate, with the all-weather lifeboat and crew standing by on the beach. The casualty was brought back to Rhyl by the ILB crew, and the owner was brought ashore to collect his vehicle from the Yacht club, and pick up the casualty off the boathouse. The All-weather lifeboat was stood down by 7pm.
On Sunday 21 May, The crew then re-started their training for the exercise with the all-weather boat. They had only been at sea on exercise about an hour, when the HM Coastguard centre at Holyhead requested the boats divert to a report from a member of the public, seeing what appeared to be a kite or something similar in the water about 1 mile out from Llandulas jetties. At this time, Rhyl all-weather lifeboat was heading to rendezvous on a pre-arranged exercise with Moelfre lifeboat. The exercise was ceased, and both lifeboats from Rhyl, together with Moelfre lifeboat, proceeded to the location, aided by volunteer coastguards on land. As the lifeboats got to the area, the first informant said that this was the exact spot they had seen the casualty. All that was there was a large area of foam on the surface of the sea, about 100 square metres in size. The first informant told the coastguards that is what they saw, so both lifeboats were stood down to return to their exercise. The inshore lifeboat had also been tasked to search near Llandulas jetties, but this was stood down too. The Rhyl all-weather crew had also picked up a party balloon which may have been what the informant saw.
However, on the return ,at 2.15pm, the inshore lifeboat crew were tasked to investigate two small inflatables apparently being tied to one of the posts marking the entrance to Rhyl harbour. The inshore lifeboat arrived on scene to find two males happily fishing, and so the crew returned to station by 2.50pm. The all-weather lifeboat again returned to the exercise previously planned.
Coxswain Martin Jones said ' We are always willing to divert for any rescue when on exercise. In fact, some of the crew succeeded with their assessments earlier than planned by carrying out their duties on service!'
Pictures show the initial boats at Rhyl harbour; the inflatable balloon; and on exercise with Moelfre lifeboat.
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