The occupants of the small day boat “Wicked Witch Too” reported to Holyhead Coastguard they were having engine problems whilst fishing off Prestatyn, and they could not lift their anchor due to the fairly rough seas.
The All-weather RNLI lifeboat at Rhyl was launched and was on scene within 30 minutes. The lifeboat went alongside the vessel, which was rolling and pitching, and a crew member was transferred from the lifeboat to the boat. The crew member tried to free the anchor, but it would not free.
The lifeboat coxswain then manoeuvered the lifeboat to another position, and the crew then used a grapnel hook to snag the anchor line, and managed to free the anchor by exerting a pull to the side.
The anchor was hauled up, and the men started their engine, which seemed to be behaving OK, and began to motor towards their launch point. The lifeboat crew member was retrieved, and the lifeboat escorted the vessel to the beach at Prestatyn, but due to it being high tide and fairly rough, the men decided to anchor up and wait for the tide to recede a little.
There being nothing else the lifeboat crew could do, they then returned to station, having to wait in Rhyl harbour until there was sufficient beach to recover the lifeboat. This was achieved by 4.30pm.
