03/06/2026
Last Wednesday 27 May, both of our lifeboats were tasked to assist people in difficulty.
At 3.12pm, our All-Weather Tamar Class Lifeboat Norah Wortley was tasked to assist a yacht in St Brides Bay. It had sustained damage to its rigging and sails were lost during the gusts of the thunderstorm.
The ALB launched at 3.27pm, arriving at the scene at 4pm. The wind was 3-5 knots with smooth to slight sea conditions and good visibility.
The yacht had lost engine propulsion as well as the damage to the sail. A decision was made to establish a tow and return the yacht to a mooring in Dale. With the yacht secured, the crew departed at 7pm, arriving back at station with the lifeboat ready for service at 8.15pm.
Whilst the ALB was out on service, at 5.18pm our D class was tasked to assist a kayaker whose kayak had capsized in the strong flooding tide.
The ILB crew assembled and launched at 5.35pm and made their way to the south end of Ramsay sound, off Treginnis Head. The casualty and kayak were located near Shoe Rock.
Our crew helped them aboard and completed a medical assessment. Fortunately, the kayaker was equipped with a buoyancy aid and a means of calling for help. When they realised they were in trouble, they called 999 and asked for the Coastguard.
The kayaker and craft were safely returned to Porthclais Harbour and the ILB returned to station with the lifeboat back on service at 8pm.
The kayak incident highlights the importance of always wearing a buoyancy aid and carrying a means of contact like a VHF radio or mobile phone in a waterproof pouch.
Photos from ALB shout, credit: RNLI/Rosie Rees
