Holyhead inshore lifeboat launch after yacht issues pan pan signal
Holyhead RNLI's inshore volunteer crew were called out yesterday (Saturday May 9) when a yacht ended up very close to rocks within the Holyhead Marina area.
Pagers sounded at 5.46pm, after a pan pan signal was made from the 11 metre vessel, and HM Coastguard requested the launch the charity's D-class inshore lifeboat Mary and Archie Hooper.
The yacht, with seven people on board, had sailed from the Irish port of Dun Laoghaire, and initial reports were that her anchor was not holding and she was getting extremely close to the rocks in front of Holyhead Marina.
With three RNLI volunteers on board, the D-class was launched and, due to the location’s close proximity to the lifeboat station, reached the yacht within a few short minutes.
Soon after, members of Holyhead volunteer coastguard team also arrived, ready to assist if required.
Contact was made with the crew, who were all fit and well, and it was decided that several of them would be brought ashore, while three remained on board to try and get the yacht away from danger.
It became apparent that the yacht’s crew had managed to attach their vessel to a Holyhead Sailing Club buoy, and had managed to pull her slightly further away from the rocks, but she was now stuck, presumed to be on the muddy sea bed, due to the low water in the location at the time.
A decision was made that the vessel would need to wait until the next high tide, early this morning, to be refloated. The rest of the crew were brought onto the shore, and, with the yacht safely attached to the sailing club mooring, the lifeboat left the scene and returned to the station, where she was washed down and prepared for any further calls.
RNLI Media Contacts
For further information, please contact:
Vicki Owens, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI Holyhead, on 07531 681409, or [email protected]
Claire Fitzpatrick-Smith, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Wales, West of England and Isle of Man, 07977 728 315, [email protected]
Danielle Rush, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Wales, West of England and Isle of Man, 07786 668829, [email protected]
RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]
Key facts about the RNLI
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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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
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