A VOLUNTEER lifeboat crew raced to the rescue of a 13.5-metre yacht with engine failure.        

Beaumaris Lifeboat were alerted by the UK Coastguard Maritime Rescue just before 1pm on Tuesday, April 23 that a yacht was drifting due to engine failure near Y Felinheliin the Menai Strait.

Pupils from Ysgol Brynsiencyn were on a visit to the lifeboat. Their talk on water safety had to be cut short.

A spokesperson for Beaumaris Lifeboat said: "The children, having previously been instructed what to do if the pagers went off, moved to the designated place of safety so they could watch the lifeboat launch.

"The lifeboat launched at 1.12pm proceeding towards the location of the yacht. Once on scene and having ensured that all was well with the two adults aboard, an assessment was made by the helm of the lifeboat was in consultation with HM Coastguard as to the best course of action.

"Because the yacht’s engine had failed and the vessel had no means of proceeding safely back to shore, there was also a risk that the vessel may block the narrow navigable channel it was decided for safety reasons that the boat should be towed to the nearest safe mooring.

"Once the tow was safely completed, the lifeboat was released by the coastguard to return to station and it was back at Beaumaris Lifeboat Station at 2.10pm to be refuelled and cleaned."

The spokesperson added: "The yacht crew did the correct thing in alerting the coastguard to their predicament. This meant our volunteer lifeboat crew were able to reach the casualty quickly, assess the situation and take the best course of action to prevent the situation worsening."