Abersoch RNLI called out to reports of an upturned dinghy off the Warren beach
The volunteer crew were paged by Holyhead Coastguard at 6.41pm Saturday 19th April. The Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat was launched at 18.54pm.
A member of the public had spotted the upturned sailing dingy floating off the Warren beach when they made the 999 call.
The crew were able to locate the dinghy without delay and it was quickly ascertained that this was the unaccounted for sailing dinghy from the RYA Youth Nationals event which had taken place earlier in the week at Plas Heli where several boats had blown out to sea following a sudden squall.
The dinghy was righted by the volunteer crew and after establishing a safe tow, and to avoid any hazardous situations at sea, the dinghy was taken to the Harbour beach to the waiting Abersoch Coastguard crew. It was decided to return the vessel to the Lifeboat Station.
The lifeboat was washed down, refuelled and left ready for service at 20.20pm.
The owners were notified and they came to collect the boat the following day.
Phill Wood, Abersoch RNLI volunteer helm, said 'The member of the public who made the 999 call did absolutely the right thing as it could have quite easily been someone in difficulty'.
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 146,000 lives.
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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
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