Porthdinllaen and Wicklow RNLI lifeboats involved in yacht rescue.
Porthdinllaen RNLI crew were tasked at 5.40am after HM Coastguard had received a call for assistance from a 30-foot yacht approximately 30 miles west of the station.
Launching with a compliment of volunteer crew and Duty Coxswain Adam Daniel at the helm, the station`s Tamar Class lifeboat made the best possible speed towards the last known position of the yacht.
En route, more details were received from HM Coastguard, that the vessel was a ketch type craft, with one single person on board, with the craft having suffered mechanical failure and unable to deploy its sails, and with the lone sailor suffering from fatigue.
With the yacht drifting near the busy traffic separation channel in the Irish Sea, speed was of the essence, and arriving on scene it was found that the yacht had drifted further towards Ireland.
Coxswain Adam Daniel assessed the situation, and taking into consideration the current tidal and weather conditions, a tow was secured to avoid any possibility of a collision.
It was also decided, due to the close proximity of Ireland, to request the assistance of Wicklow RNLI.
Wicklow RNLI were tasked and with Coxswain Alan Goucher and six crew members on board, the stations Shannon Class lifeboat RNLB Bridie O’Shea launched at 8.10am and made the best possible speed to the rendezvous with Porthdinllaen RNLI lifeboat.
On scene within an hour of launching, a crew member was placed on board the yacht to assist with transferring the tow line. After securing the tow, and ensuring the casualty was well, Wicklow RNLI lifeboat proceeded back towards Wicklow.
Porthdinllaen was relieved of its duties to return to station and arriving at 11.30am where the boat was refuelled, washed down and ready for service by 12.30pm.
Wicklow lifeboat arrived back in Wicklow Harbour where the casualty was secured alongside by 12.15pm.
RNLI Coxswain Adam Daniel added:
'Thanks to our colleagues at Wicklow for their assistance today, the yacht was drifting in the international shipping lanes in the Irish Sea, and it was imperative that a tow was secured to tow the craft clear of the lanes to avoid any possibility of a collision. Thanks to both crews, the tow was transferred and secured in a timely and safe manner.'
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For further information, please contact:
Danielle Rush, RNLI Communications Staff Member for <REGION>,Wales, the North West and Isle of Man on 07786 668829 or [email protected]
RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]
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