Tenby RNLI and the Tenby Harbour Team have recently installed signage around the North Beach advising open water swimmers to swim with a visibility buoy and also asking boaters to look out for swimmers.

Explained Tenby RNLI Community Safety Officer, Andrew Lowe, “We had become aware of a few near misses with swimmers as boats approach the harbour or outer moorings, particularly in the evening which is a popular time for swim training, but also a time of day when the low sun hampers the vision of anyone helming a boat towards the harbour.

“Swimming with a visibility buoy makes a swimmer so much easier to spot. We also ask all boaters to particularly aware of the popularity of North Bay as a venue for open water swimming.

“We are very grateful for the help of Tenby Aces, both for their support of the initiative, their input on the content and their advice on the best locations for the signs.

“Thanks must also go to Pembrokeshire harbourmaster Chris Salisbury for getting the support of Pembrokeshire County Council and also for the installation of the signs.

“Finally we need to thank Pembrokeshire Coast National Park for also supporting the scheme,” he added.

As well as advice to swimmers to make themselves as visible as possible, the signs also enable swimmers to identify the areas of high boat traffic which should be avoided.

The majority of the cost of the signs was borne by local businesses Signature Design of Tenby and The Signbox of Templeton with the remainder funded by the RNLI.