A 10 metre yacht, which suffered engine failure off the south Pembrokeshire coast, was towed to safety by Angle’s all-weather RNLI Tamar class lifeboat on Monday evening (7 June).
The Blue Moon, which was on passage from Jersey to the Isle of Man, was making no headway in the unpleasant weather conditions.
The lifeboat Mark Mason, commanded by RNLI Staff Coxswain Lee Firman, was launched at 6.30pm and reached the casualty at 7.15pm.
The yacht was then taken in tow to Milford Haven, where she berthed at the Mackerel Stage.
The lifeboat returned to her station at 9.45pm.
With Staff Coxswain Firman on the call-out were Second Coxswain Danny Richards, Mechanic Richard Roch, Deputy Second Coxswain Alun Watkins, Assistant Mechanics Adam Seaton and Mervyn Lunn, Mark Roch and Luke Richards.
It was the fourth call-out in five days for the station’s lifeboats. On Saturday (5 June), the D class inshore lifeboat, Richard John Talbot Hillier – which was visiting Hazelbeach Regatta with the Mark Mason – was called out at 2.45pm to the aid of a powerboat aground in the upper reaches of the Milford Haven Waterway, between Lawrenny and Cresswell Quay.
The inshore lifeboat could not reach the powerboat because of the lack of depth of water on the falling tide.,But a member of the lifeboat’s volunteer crew, Helmsman Mark Roch, was put ashore and waded through sea mud to reach the casualty.
The three people on board the powerboat had enough food, water and spare clothing, so they decided to remain on board and wait for their boat to refloat at midnight.
After Mark Roch had rejoined the lifeboat, she returned to her station.
With him on the call-out were Richard Bowles and Peter Roch.
Saturday’s service followed a double call-out for the inshore lifeboat on Thursday, 3 June.
