ANGLE LIFEBOAT was paged by the Coastguard at 7:49am on Sunday morning following reports of a yacht aground at Dale.

The lifeboat launched and proceeded over towards Dale where once on scene, the lifeboat’s smaller inflatable Y boat was launched to head in and investigate.

Once with the yacht, the Y boat found two persons with the yacht, one in the water trying to free the yacht. With the yacht having difficulties with astern propulsion, they were unable to re-float themselves.
The Y boat crew rigged a tow and gently managed to tow the vessel into deeper water where the yachts skipper was then able to motor himself alongside the pontoon. Once checks for damage and water ingress, the yachts skipper was happy that he required no further assistance.

With this, the Y boat was recovered and the lifeboat stood down to return to station, where she was readied for service once again just after 9am.

The following day, Angle All-Weather Lifeboat was requested to launch at 3:30pm on Monday afternoon following an EPIRB activation in the vicinity of Grassholm Island.

The lifeboat launched and made best speed in unfavourable conditions. Following a Mayday Relay broadcast by the coastguard, the Irish Ferries vessel ‘Oscar Wilde’ had responded and diverted to assist. St David’s All-Weather Lifeboat and Coastguard Rescue helicopter R924 from Newquay had also been tasked initially, with Angle Lifeboat tasked 34 minutes later.

The lifeboats were requested to investigate a fishing vessel in a position south west of Skokholm island, to determine if the EPIRB was theirs before the lifeboats would subsequently begin searches.

St David’s Lifeboat arrived with the fishing vessel and with the Oscar Wilde providing a lee due to the sea conditions, their crew attempted to make contact with the fishing vessels skipper. With the vessel having no comms, this was proving difficult.

Angle Lifeboat arrived briefly afterwards, and attempted to get as close as possible to try and communicate with the skipper to ascertain whether or not the activation was coming from his vessel.

With communications still proving difficult and the sea conditions not allowing the lifeboat to go alongside the vessel, the coxswain made the decision to request the fishing vessels skipper to throw his EPIRB overboard so that the lifeboat could recover it and confirm the ID matched that of the activation received.

The lifeboat was then able to recover the EPIRB from the water and confirm that it was transmitting. The ID numbers were passed to the coastguard who confirmed that they matched those of the hit that they had received.

With this information, all assets were stood due to return to their stations. However, due to the sea conditions and lack of communication with the fishing vessel, Angle Lifeboat were to escort the vessel in to Milford Docks to ensure their safety.

Following a slow escort, the fishing vessel and lifeboat arrived at the lock pits at 6:45pm. With no further assistance required, the lifeboat and her crew were stood down to return to station where she was readied for service once again just after 7pm.