St Davids RNLI Easter Monday Launch to Drifting Kayak
St Davids RNLI all-weather lifeboat was requested to launch at 11:04am on Easter Monday 6th April to investigate an upturned kayak floating to the east of Solva harbour.
Heading into a strong South Easterly wind, the Tamar class lifeboat headed directly to Aber-west. Members of HM Coastguard St Davids cliff rescue team assisted from the clifftop, directing the volunteer crew to the kayak.
Due to the proximity of the kayak close to the shore, the daughter boat was launched to retrieve and brought aboard the Norah Wortley.
After sending photographs of the kayak to HM Coastguard at Milford Haven, they confirmed the kayak was reported missing from Porthclais a few days earlier. As a result, no shoreline search for the kayak’s owner was required.
The kayak was taken to Solva harbour where it was handed over to HM Coastguard and made safe on the quay wall. The lifeboat returned to station at approximately 12.30 pm.
Will Chant, RNLI St Davids Coxswain, said: ‘The timely reporting of a missing kayak by the owner potentially saved an unnecessary search operation. Thank you to members of St Davids Coastguard team for their assistance during this shout.’
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