Porthdinllaen Lifeboat launched in stormy weather conditions.
Porthdinllaen RNLI lifeboat were requested to launch to a possible fishing vessel in difficulties near Trefor, Caernarfon.
A member of the public who had been observing the vessel for a while, had called 999, concerned that the fishing vessel seemed to be going round in circles off Trefor point. UK Coastguard had attempted several times to make contact via VHF radio with the vessel but with no success and with daylight diminishing rapidly, it was decided that the best option was to launch the lifeboat to investigate further.
Launching down the slipway at 15:42, Porthdinllaen` s Tamar Class lifeboat with a full complement of volunteer crew proceeded to the reported position of the vessel. Despite gale force North Easterly winds and rough seas, the lifeboat made the best possible speed and made it as far as Trwyn y Gorlech, which is between Nant Gwrtheyrn and Trefor, when it was stood down by UK Coastguard. Confirmation had been received that the vessel had made it safely by now in to the shelter of Trefor Harbour.
On returning to Porthdinllaen, several attempts were made, in the gale force winds and rough seas, to rehouse the lifeboat, but the heavy swell off the slipway made it impossible to complete this safely. It was therefore decided to passage round to the haven of Pwllheli Marina. After enduring hours of rough seas and deteriorating conditions, the lifeboat was safely moored inside Pwllheli Marina by 20:30.
Owain Williams, Porthdinllaen Lifeboat Coxswain added, “Massive thanks to all the crew and shore crew who turned up in far from ideal conditions. Our thanks as well to the staff at Pwllheli Marina who were able to allocate a berth for us overnight at such short notice”.
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The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.
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