A white 38′ trimaran yacht Sorceress with three crew aboard and anchored in Fishguard Harbour had to be towed to the more sheltered waters of Lower Town on Saturday afternoon, by the RNLI all-weather lifeboat Blue Peter.
As the weather deteriorated and wind strength picked up to Force 6/7, the trimaran, which had a disabled engine, started to drag its anchor and drift towards the outer breakwater. The stricken crew contacted the Coastguard who in turn called out both Fishguard lifeboats at 1.35pm to render assistance. Fortunately both the all-weather and inshore lifeboat were on scene within minutes of launching due to the yacht’s close proximity to the lifeboat station. Crew from the ILB boarded the yacht and fixed the towline and the trimaran was moved towards Lower Town by the ALB where it was safely attached to a mooring. Both lifeboats returned back to station shortly before 3pm.
The trimaran, on passage from Penzance, was awaiting engine repairs before progressing on towards Bangor.
The following day, Sunday, saw the ILB called out again around midday after the 12 foot leisure fishing boat Thunderbird was unable to start both her engines whilst fishing off the Fort, near Lower Town. The two fishermen aboard deployed their anchor but the SW winds were too strong and the anchor failed to hold. The ILB with three volunteers aboard deployed after the Coastguard had been contacted. Once on scene the ILB took the drifting boat under tow and returned her to her mooring in Lower Town.
