Porthdinllaen RNLI launch to assist yacht
On Friday 10 May, Porthdinllaen RNLI's all-weather lifeboat was tasked at 7.07am by HM Coastguard to assist a yacht with electrical problems, and its skipper unsure of their position in the Irish Sea.
Launching with a full complement of volunteer crew, they launched their Tamar class lifeboat and made best possible speed to the last known position of the yacht. Making full use of the onboard radar and directional finding equipment, the casualty was quickly located at a position 17 nautical miles north-west of Porthdinllaen.
Once alongside the yacht, a casualty care trained crew member boarded the vessel and after a thorough assessment, the lone sailor was found to be suffering from sleep deprivation. Coxswain Owain Williams decided that the safest option was to escort the vessel back to a safe mooring at Porthdinllaen, where the skipper could rest properly before recommencing their passage south.
This call out marked the first shout for volunteer crew member Ross Hodson who recently returned from the RNLI College at Poole having completed her Crew Emergency Procedures course.
Coxswain Owain Williams added: 'The skipper in question did the right thing in calling for assistance when they did. They were unsure of their position and could have easily drifted into the busy shipping lane. We would rather be called out early to ensure a successful rescue.'
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 142,700 lives.
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