03/29/2024

Wales News Online

Local & National News for Wales

OVER the weekend Moelfre’s lifeboat was launched with a volunteer crew of seven to rescue a 31ft yacht. The Y-boat was deployed with two RNLI crew members on board to approach and assess the casualty vessel, that was stuck fast to the seabed by a rope around its propeller at Porth Wen on the north coast of Anglesey.

Contact was quickly established with the crew of the yacht, and they said that they were considering putting someone into the water to attempt to cut the obstruction. However, with the risk of injury that this posed it was decided to connect a tow and take the vessel to a safe location to assess.

Once a tow was connected, the vessel was carefully towed away from the confines of the rocky shore into deeper water, once underway the skipper advised that he was happy to be towed to the shallows of the beach at Cemaes Bay and dry out with the tide to be able to clear the obstruction and check for any damage.

The yacht was taken alongside the ALB once in Cemaes Bay the casualty vessel anchor was deployed in the shallow waters of the beach. Once the vessel was secure ALB returned to station at Moelfre to be washed down and made ready for her next call to service.

Lifeboat coxswain Alan Owen said:

“This was a routine call for our volunteer crew, made difficult by not being able to safely access the obstruction around the yacht propeller. I would recommend that if someone onboard a vessel find themselves in a similar situation, stay in the boat and don’t attempt to go into the water to free the obstruction. On this occasion, the owner did the right thing and called for help. Now local restrictions have eased and people can once again come and enjoy our beautiful coastline and waters, please stay safe and if you get into difficulties please stay with your vessel and call your local coastguard for assistance at the earliest opportunity”

Dr Harri Pritchard – Moelfre lifeboat Medical Advisor

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