ST DAVIDS All-weather Lifeboat launched around 10.15pm on Monday (May 18) to assist a motor vessel in 2-4 metre seas, with two disoriented, fatigued and sea-sick people on board.

Launching into a Force 6, gusting 7, rain and darkness, the lifeboat headed South out of Ramsey Sound and through the overfalls running across the south of the Island.

Situated around 1-2 miles Southwest of the South Bishop Lighthouse, the vessel had suffered a failure with the navigation equipment.

As the lifeboat approached the lighthouse, the casualty vessel’s navigation lights could be seen close to the rocks on the north side. The vessel was positioned in the swirling back eddy between the overfalls and being carried dangerously close to the rocks.

A brief discussion with the casualty vessel and the lifeboat took place where it was decided that the best course of action was for the lifeboat to guide the casualty back to the safety of the RNLI St Davids Lifeboat mooring at St Justinians.

The casualty was instructed to follow the lifeboat as close as practically possible in order to utilise the lifeboat’s wake as safe water zone, helping the motor boat to negotiate the overfalls and tide race back to St Justinians.

Once back in Ramsey Sound, a lifeboat crew member was placed aboard the casualty vessel to assist with securing the vessel safely to the mooring.

With the vessel secured, the two people and the RNLI crewman on board the motor boat were bought on to the lifeboat, after which the Lifeboat duly recovered on to the slipway, rehousing at approximately 10 minutes past midnight on May 19.

Coxswain William Chant said: “These casualties were in a real difficult and dangerous situation. Their timely call for assistance allowed us to assist them before things could have got much worse.”