Drifting Yacht rescued by Porthdinllaen RNLI Lifeboat

UK Coastguard had been monitoring the ketch type craft with one lone sailor on board, since earlier in the afternoon after concerns had been raised that the vessel seemed to be drifting closer to the shoreline. At 7:10 pm, and with the weather deteriorating, the Coastguard requested that the lifeboat launch to recover the vessel to the shelter of Porthdinllaen Harbour. Launching with a compliment of volunteer crew and with Coxswain Owain Williams at the helm, the lifeboat was at the scene within minutes. Contact was made with the sailor who confirmed that he had two anchors deployed but was unable to retrieve them. It was decided that two volunteer members of the lifeboat crew would be placed on board to assist with the anchor’s retrieval. With a heavy swell and near gale force Westerly wind, the lifeboat was skilfully manoeuvred alongside on the first attempt to complete the transfer of the crew.

With yacht now being blown ever closer to the rocky outcrop at Cerrig Gleision, time was of the essence and the crew managed to recover both the anchors, and a tow was set up. Despite being hampered by the deteriorating weather, the vessel was successfully towed to sheltered waters and placed on a safe mooring within Porthdinllaen Harbour.

After confirmation was received by the Yacht`s owner that he wished to remain aboard his craft and that he was in good health, the lifeboat was released from its duty and returned to its boathouse where it was washed down, refuelled and ready for service by 9:10 pm.

Kenneth Fitzpatrick, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Porthdinllaen added, ‘The yacht was perilously close to shoreline and was in imminent danger of being blown against the rocky shoreline. The good teamwork from the crew tonight shows how dedicated our team are here at Porthdinllaen. As always, many thanks to our Colleagues at UK Coastguard at Holyhead for their assistance and constant monitoring of our shoreline’.

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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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