Penarth lifeboat crew were kept busy last week, attending four call outs in one week. The first call came at around 2.30 on Friday afternoon, (28th May) when the crew were called to a yacht sailing from Bristol to Cardiff, that had problems with its gearbox.
The larger of Penarth’s boats, the Atlantic 85, motored through bumpy sea conditions, secured a tow to the yacht and towed it to Cardiff Barrage.
The crew were called again at 8 am on Sunday morning, to reports of a motor boat with two people on board that had run aground near the mouth of the River Usk. Penarth lifeboat was joined by Barry Dock, who couldn’t help, as the tide wasn’t high enough and water levels were too low. Lifeboat crew member Phil Dutfield left the lifeboat and paddled to the motor boat to make sure the people on board were safe, but the boat was so high up on the banks of the river, it was on dry land, and there was nothing the lifeboat crew could do except advise the pair on board to leave the boat where it was and retrieve it at high tide.
In the very early hours of the next day (Monday morning) the lifeboat launched to help a motor boat that had broken down and anchored – according to the three people on board – two and a half miles from the barrage. The lifeboat spent some time searching for the missing boat, being directed by the position stated by the three on board. Eventually the boat was found, but nowhere near the position the occupants of the motor boat had given. The lifeboat made sure the motor boat was safely in the lock overnight before the crew returned to the station.
Penarth Lifeboat Deputy Launching Authority, Laurie Pavlin, stressed how important is to be aware of your position when at sea, he said:
“Before you leave the shore, check your safety equipment and your communication and navigation equipment and make sure you have a marine radio that is charged up and fully functional.”
The final call came on Thursday 3rd June when the crew were called out just after midnight to tow a broken down fishing boat, with two people on board, to Cardiff barrage.
Penarth Lifeboat is seeking new volunteers to join the crew. If you are interested or would like more information, call into the crew training night at the lifeboat station on Penarth Esplande any Tuesday night between 7 and 9pm.
