
Porthdinllaen RNLI tasked to assist de-masted yacht near South Stack
On Wednesday, 28 August, Porthdinllaen RNLI were requested to launch to assist a de-masted yacht with two people on board, eight nautical miles west of South Stack on Anglesey.
The lifeboat made the best possible speed to the position of the yacht, which was 26 nautical miles north west of Porthdinllaen, with Coastguard rescue helicopter 936 also scrambled and the Atlantic class lifeboat from Trearddur Bay also launched.
On route to the scene, an update was received that Trearddur Bay lifeboat had arrived on scene and transferred both occupants of the yacht on to their vessel and had the casualty vessel on tow, thus, to ensure that it would not drift into the nearby busy shipping lanes.
After an hour passage from station, Porthdinllaen lifeboat arrived alongside Trearddur Bay lifeboat and the tow and the occupants were successfully transferred on to the larger Tamar Class lifeboat to continue with the tow to the safety of Holyhead Port where it was secured on a visitor mooring to await repairs. The two sailors were handed over to the care of the awaiting Holyhead Coastguard Rescue Team.
Owain Williams, Porthdinllaen RNLI Coxswain added:
‘A great example of multi-agency teamwork. Our thanks to Trearddur Bay Lifeboat, Holyhead Coastguard and Holyhead CRT and the merchant vessels who responded to the Mayday call, all of whom played their part in a successful outcome.'
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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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