LAST week (Thursday 28 and Friday 29 April) saw New Quay RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat launch on service twice within two days and the first service for relief lifeboat 12-13 Keep Fit Association since she retired from Filey RNLI.
On Thursday 28 April it was an early start for New Quay RNLI when the pagers sounded at 5.42am. The all-weather lifeboat had been tasked to assist a 16 metre whelk fishing vessel with 4 persons onboard, which had lost all propulsion due to a fouled propeller.
Daniel Potter, New Quay RNLI’s Coxswain said, “The initial position was given as 26 nautical miles NW of New Quay but when the lifeboat arrived the vessel was actually 36 miles from New Quay. Having assessed the situation, we decided that the best course of action would be to tow the vessel to the nearest safe haven. We then began a 6-hour tow to Fishguard, where the vessel was safely berthed alongside the quay.”
The lifeboat then returned to New Quay at 4pm, more than 10 hours after launching and having covered over 100 nautical miles during the day. It was also the first service for relief lifeboat 12-13 Keep Fit Association since she retired as Filey’s station boat last year and not the last for New Quay RNLI as she launched on service again the following night.
Roger Couch, New Quay RNLI’s Lifeboat Operations Manager added, “On Friday 29 April just after 10pm our all-weather lifeboat was tasked by Milford Haven Coastguard to support Cardigan Lifeboat ‘s D-class inshore, and to carry out a radar search of the area after distress flares were sighted off the Teifi estuary. The Coastguard helicopter 187 from St Athan was also tasked.
“However, following a thorough search of the area, all assets were stood down at 12.30am and our all-weather lifeboat returned to station. It was a false alarm with good intent. Remember if you see anyone in difficulty at sea or on the coast, call 999 and ask for Coastguard.”
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