Porthdinllaen RNLI in North Wales was tasked at 5.40am on Monday morning (11 May) after HM Coastguard received a call for assistance from a 30-foot yacht some 30 miles west of the station.
Launching with a complement 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 on arriving on scene it was found that the yacht had drifted further towards Ireland.
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 across the Irish Sea.
With coxswain Alan Goucher and six crew members on board, the station’s Shannon Class lifeboat Bridie O’Shea launched at 8.10am to rendezvous with Porthdinllaen RNLI lifeboat.
The lifeboat was on scene within an hour of launching and 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, the Wicklow lifeboat returned to Wicklow Harbour where the casualty vessel was secured alongside by 12.15pm.
Porthdinllaen RNLI’s crew were meanwhile was relieved of their duties and the lifeboat returned to station, where the boat was refuelled, washed down and ready for service by 12.30pm.
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.”
