Byline: Both the Inshore and All-weather RNLI lifeboats at Rhyl were called out on 18 May to 2 vessels experiencing difficulty at the entrance to Rhyl harbour.

Page Content: Both boats launched to 2 vessels in difficulty on the rock groyne at the entrance to Rhyl harbour. The first power vessel had engine failure, and a yacht had gone to their aid, but had caught the rocks and lost their rudder, resulting in both boats going over the rock groyne and being in danger of being washed ashore. The Inshore lifeboat launched first, and established a tow on the yacht to take it clear of the rocks and the shore. The All-weather boat followed up, and arrived on scene to find the power vessel’s crew had restarted the engine, and it was making it’s way back round the groyne to Rhyl harbour. The ILB continued the tow until there was sufficient water for the AWB to take up the tow. This was successfully completed and the yacht and it’s 5 passengers were towed safely back to Rhyl harbour, to Rhyl coastguard team, who assisted with mooring the boat. Once it was established that both casualties were safe, the lifeboats returned to station at 2000. The picture taken from the AWB shows the ILB towing the yacht to deeper water, with the power vessel entering the harbour behind.

Byline: On the afternoon of Saturday 18th May Cardigan lifeboat volunteers were paged at 2.51pm to reports of an unconscious casualty on the rocks at Ceibwr bay. Both boats were quickly launched and on scene within 10 minutes.

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As the Atlantic lifeboat Tanni Grey was first on scene a crew member was put onto the rocks to assess the situation. Shortly afterwards the D class Elsie Ida Meade arrived on scene and two more crew members were able to assist with the casualty.  

Due to the conditions and where the casualty was positioned, a great amount of concentration and skill was needed by both the helms on the two lifeboats. The RAF search and rescue helicopter, Rescue 122 based at RAF Valley arrived on scene at 3:26pm where a winchman was lowered to prepare the casualty for medical evacuation.

RNLI contact

For more information please contact Gemma Griffiths, volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, on 077929498433. 

Byline: Under powder blue skies and in glorious sunshine, the volunteer team at Bude RNLI lifeboat station held a formal naming ceremony and service of dedication for their new D class inshore lifeboat George Bird today (Saturday 18 May 2013).

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The event was hosted at the lifeboat station where the donor of the lifeboat, Mrs Patricia Bird from Kent splashed the bow with champagne as she named the new lifeboat in memory of her husband. 

Guests were greeted first by Paul Finn, Chairman of the Bude RNLI Lifeboat Management Group who said the ceremony continued a proud tradition for the station:

‘The first lifeboat for Bude was presented by King William IV in 1837. Our first D class inshore lifeboat arrived in 1966 and today we are welcoming the George Bird ensuring we have the very best up-to-date lifeboat. Without the generosity of Mrs Bird and that of our many volunteers, the RNLI wouldn’t be the charity it is today, thank you.’   

Chris Cloke, RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager at Bude, accepted the lifeboat on behalf of the station and took the opportunity to remind people of the need for more volunteers to support the charity’s work in the town:

‘We urgently need to find new helpers and supporters, including recruits for the crew and people who can help with our fundraising events. We hope this ceremony will illustrate the importance of our work saving lives at sea, and persuade people that there’s a lot of fun to be had as part of a local RNLI team.’

After the ceremony, during which Mrs Bird was presented with a bouquet of flowers, the new D class inshore lifeboat launched to the sound of a lone piper playing Trelawney.  The guests were then treated to hot drinks and very popular home-made biscuits produced by two of the station’s talented volunteers. 
 
George Bird replaces the station’s former D class inshore lifeboat Henry Philip that was on station from 2004 to 2012. During this time the lifeboat launched 69 times and rescued 29 people.

RNLI notes to editors

• The attached pictures should be credited to RNLI/Simon Culliford and are as follows:
*Mrs Patricia Bird naming the new Bude RNLI D class inshore lifeboat George Bird in memory of her late husband, with a little help from Tom Mansell, RNLI Divisional Operations Manager.
*The naming ceremony venue at Bude RNLI lifeboat station as the event begins.
*The new Bude RNLI D class inshore lifeboat George Bird is put through her paces at sea straight after the ceremony.

• A short video of the event is available from Tamsin Thomas via the contact details below.
 
• Since 1963 the D class has become the workhorse of the charity, being highly manoeuvrable, able to work close inshore in shallow water, broken surf and areas that other lifeboats in the fleet could not operate. D class lifeboats have accounted for 30% of all RNLI launches, and the D class lifeboat accounts for 48% of all inshore lifeboat launches.  The D class has been constantly refined and improved with many of the changes being suggested and trialled by volunteer crew members before being incorporated into the evolving design. The latest version was first produced in 2003 and incorporates the use of modern lightweight composite materials rather than timber, updated navigation and communications systems, and a more powerful outboard motor to improve acceleration and give a maximum speed of 25 knots.

RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact Tamsin Thomas, RNLI Public Relations Manager for the south west, on 07786 668847 or email Tamsin_Thomas@rnli.org.uk