News

Rescued twice on a trip to Portsmouth

Published

11 years ago

July 3, 2015

Tom Sinclair

Engine trouble: The Vita Lote II

A YACHTSMAN had to be rescued twice in one week after he attempted to sail 300 miles along Britain’s coast using nothing but a mobile phone app to navigate.

The hapless sailor was trying to sail his 32ft yacht single-handedly from Milford Haven to Portsmouth when he got stuck in shallow water in Poole Harbour, The Daily Mail has reported.

A week previously he had been towed into St Ives, Cornwall, after getting into trouble a mile from the seaside holiday town.

Lifeboat crews said they had to tow the boat and its exhausted skipper to the safety of a nearby marina in Poole, following the most recent rescue. Coastguards then visited the vessel, where they discovered the man had been using an app on his phone to work out his route along the coast.

They also found that the skipper, in his 40’s, had 27 out-of-date emergency flares on board the boat – some which were more than 13 years out of date. According to The Mail, he had not used a passage plan for his trip and had not told coastguards about his trip.

The week before two lifeboat crews from St Ives were called out after the engine on the yacht, which is named the Vita Lote II, stopped working. They found the yacht drifting perilously close to rocks but were able to take it back to the safety of the harbour.

It is understood the man, who was described as an experienced sailor, bought the yacht in Oban, Scotland, last year and had then sailed it to Milford Haven to spend the winter there.

He was making his way to Portsmouth when the incidents occurred.

On both occasions the man raised the alarm with the coastguard.

The first incident took place on June 8 and the sailor was rescued again on Monday. Coastguards were so concerned about him they gave him a safety briefing and checked over his equipment including his lifejacket and radio.

A spokesman for St Ives lifeboat crew said: “While out on exercise the all-weather lifeboat and inshore lifeboat were tasked to a yacht that was in difficulty half a mile north of Hor Point. The yacht being close to the shore and with a strong northerly wind blowing the inshore lifeboat was tasked to go and stand by the vessel to wait for the all-weather lifeboat to arrive and attach a tow line.

The spokesman added: “The all-weather lifeboat arrived on scene shortly after and attached a tow line and bought the casualty vessel and two persons onboard into St. Ives.”

After rescuing the sailor again a week later, a spokesman for Poole coastguard said: “We were paged to meet a vessel at Salterns Marina which had run aground in Poole Harbour and needed some safety advice. The vessel was using an 2014 almanac and an app on a mobile phone to navigate from Cornwall to Portsmouth. It turned out he had already been seen by the RNLI down south so seeing us was nothing uncommon to him.”

Allan Norman, of the Marine Coastguard Agency, said: “In this case the skipper had been caught out by the weather. He was singlehanded and had been sailing for quite a long time, so he was exhausted. He was using a navigation app on his mobile phone but he did have the right equipment on board. He was quite experienced so our advice to him was to make sure he got enough rest and to call us with his passage plan in future.”

News

Local rugby talent Osian Williams selected for Wales Under-20 clash with England

Published

6 minutes ago

February 6, 2026

Herald Sport

A FORMER Haverfordwest Blues junior has earned international honours after being selected to represent Wales Under-20 rugby union team in their fixture against England.

Osian Williams, who began his rugby journey at Haverfordwest Rugby Football Club, will pull on the red jersey this evening in what marks a proud milestone for both the player and the Pembrokeshire club that helped develop his talent.

Club members said the call-up reflects years of hard work, commitment and steady progress through the ranks, with Williams recognised locally for his determination and performances on the pitch from a young age.

A spokesperson for Haverfordwest RFC said the whole club is “incredibly proud” to see one of their own step onto the international stage.

They added that it is always special to watch former junior players progress to represent their country, describing Williams’ selection as “fully deserved” and an inspiration to the next generation coming through the Blues’ youth setup.

The match against England provides a stern test for the young Welsh side, but for Williams and his family it is also a moment to savour after years of dedication to the sport.

Friends, coaches and former teammates are expected to be cheering him on from Pembrokeshire as he makes his mark in Welsh colours.

Photo caption:

Osian Williams has been selected to play for Wales Under-20s against England (Pic: Supplied).

Crime

Man arrested for murder following death of pensioner in Pembroke Dock

Published

27 minutes ago

February 6, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Officers called to Hawkstone Road property as investigation continues and residents urged to come forward

DYFED-POWYS POLICE officers have launched a murder investigation following the sudden death of an eighty-five-year-old man at a property in Hawkstone Road, Pembroke Dock.

Emergency services were called at approximately 1:30pm today (Friday, Feb 6).

Officers attended the scene and enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of the death.

A man in his forties has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody.

Residents can expect to see an increased police presence in the area while the investigation continues.

Anyone with information that could assist officers is urged to come forward.

Information can be provided online, by 101.

Quote reference: 212 of February 6.

Alternatively, reports can be made anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or via their website.

Education

Second west Wales school placed in lockdown within days

Published

39 minutes ago

February 6, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

Precautionary measures activated at Ysgol Brynteg after morning disturbance outside gates

CARMARTHENSHIRE pupils were kept inside classrooms after a precautionary lockdown was triggered at Ysgol Brynteg on Friday morning (Feb 6), marking the second west Wales secondary school to enter lockdown in the same week.

Police were called shortly after 9:00am following reports of a verbal altercation outside the school grounds.

Officers from Dyfed-Powys Police attended and the Llanelli school activated its safeguarding procedures while the situation was assessed.

No weapons were reported, no injuries have been confirmed and there have been no arrests at this stage. The incident is understood to have involved a dispute outside the site rather than inside the school itself.

Pupils remained indoors under staff supervision while officers made checks. Once police were satisfied there was no ongoing risk, the lockdown was lifted and lessons continued as normal.

A spokesperson said the measure was purely precautionary.

The incident comes just days after armed officers were deployed to Milford Haven School following a serious assault on a teacher, prompting a temporary closure and widespread concern among parents.

While the circumstances in Llanelli were far less severe, the two events occurring so close together have heightened anxiety among families across west Wales.

Schools routinely use lockdown procedures when there is any uncertainty or potential threat nearby, even if the risk later proves minimal. The approach is designed to err on the side of caution and protect pupils while emergency services investigate.

Parents were informed that Brynteg was safe and operating normally once the situation had been resolved.

There is currently no indication that pupils inside the school were directly involved in the disturbance.

The Herald understands enquiries are ongoing.

Both incidents underline how quickly everyday school days can be disrupted, and how safeguarding responses are increasingly becoming part of standard practice across Welsh schools.

Anyone with information about the Llanelli incident is asked to contact police.