St Davids RNLI Launch to PAN-PAN Schooner

The schooner had broken its bow sprit and was unable to recover it from the water. Still attached to the vessel and now rolling up and down the boat’s side, the skipper was worried that it could damage the hull and cause a leak. On passage to the Isle of Man from Falmouth, the schooner was some 4-6miles west of the Smalls lighthouse when the call for urgent assistance was made.

In order to minimise possible damage to the hull, the skipper elected to steam down-sea until St Davids lifeboat arrived on scene. Once on scene, the charity’s lifeboat began an escort towards Milford Haven waterway. Angle RNLI all-weather lifeboat arrived on scene later and the escort was handed over to them just south of the Hats and Barrels islands. St Davids crew returned to station and rehoused at around 10:45pm.

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone Simone Eade, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07799 804 922 or [email protected] or Claire Fitzpatrick-Smith, Regional Communications Manager on 07977 728 315 or [email protected] or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.

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 142,700 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.