Four shouts in three days for The Mumbles Lifeboat

The first launch came at dawn on Saturday 17 May, when a solo sailor issued a Mayday from a disabled yacht, 8 miles south of Three Cliffs Bay.

The sailor was injured and without power, drifting in the middle of the busy Bristol Channel. Both the all-weather lifeboat (ALB) Roy Barker IV and Mumbles inshore lifeboat (ILB) launched. With the injured sailor unable to regain control of the powerless vessel, a tow was set up and the yacht was brought safely back to Swansea Marina.

Sunday saw two taskings: First during scheduled training when the ALB was tasked to investigate a possible pan pan call off Bracelet Bay. With only partial radio contact, the crew searched the area and spoke with local boaters. Fortunately, no further action was needed.

James Cunliffe, Second Mechanic, said:

'A pan pan call on VHF Channel 16 means someone’s in difficulty – not immediately life-threatening like a Mayday – but they still require assistance. We encourage all water users to carry a VHF radio, listen out, and make sure they are trained and comfortable using one.'

That same afternoon, Mumbles ILB launched to help a 20ft motorboat that had suffered engine failure in Pwll Bay. The vessel had no propulsion and was a potential risk to navigation. With the safety of the crew a priority, the volunteer lifeboat crew towed the vessel 5 miles back to Swansea. The skipper’s use of VHF and proper safety kit helped ensure a good outcome.

Early on Monday morning, The Mumbles lifeboat launched again, heading 16 miles west to assist a 30ft yacht with a damaged mast, drifting dangerously south of Mewslade Bay. Two volunteer crew members were transferred across to support the fatigued sailors, and the damaged vessel was towed to Swansea Marina - one of the few accessible safe havens in the Bristol Channel.

These shouts underline a key message: when something goes wrong at sea, having the right equipment, such as a means of calling for help - and knowing how to use it - is crucial. The RNLI strongly recommends carrying more than one means of calling for help, such as a VHF radio and Personal Locator Beacon and keeping it accessible.

The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea and we will always help those in distress on the water. However, we are not directly responsible for marine salvage and towing operations. Our specially trained volunteer lifeboat crew, in collaboration with HM Coastguard, follow procedure to determine what the best course of action is for saving lives at sea.

For more sea safety advice, you can visit: https://rnli.org/safety

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

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.