8:30am Sunday 8th November 2009
PENARTH Lifeboat crew came to the rescue of two fishing boats that went missing in the Bristol Channel recently.
Both Penarth RNLI lifeboats were launched on Saturday, October 24, with helm Andy Vye-Parminter and his crew of Jim Mayer and Oli Jaycock in the larger Atlantic 75 boat, and Karl Lawrence helming the smaller Inshore Lifeboat (ILB), with his crew of Ben Reynolds and Jon Russill. After searching for some time in bad weather conditions, and a wave height of between 1.5 and 2m, both lifeboats used search lights and night vision to assist in the search. Three white para flares were fired to illuminate the area and to provide the lost fishing boats with a reference point.
Lifeboat crews eventually spotted a torch flashing a mile and a half away from the original reported position. The ILB followed the light and found one of the missing boats, with two men on board.
Both were inappropriately dressed given the conditions of strong wind and rain, with no waterproof clothing or VHF and no lifejackets. The lifeboat crew issued lifejackets and waterproof equipment to the two men, and the ILB began to tow the fishing boat towards Cardiff Barrage. ILB helm, Andy Vye-Parminter, said: "It soon became clear that with tide, wind and heavy seas against us, it was going to be a long, slow and wet passage to the Barrage.
"With waves breaking over both boats, the two men on board the fishing boat were becoming cold and wet so we decided to divert the tow and head for the closer shelter of the Rhymney River.
"Amidst steep breaking waves, we entered the relative calm of the river, secured the fishing boat at the boatyard and handed the two grateful gentlemen into the care of Coastguards."
With one vessel found, the Coastguard arranged for the second missing boat to fire a red flare to assist in locating her position. Once the flare had been fired, the Atlantic 75 made its way to the position, which was around a mile further offshore.
The two crew of the boat were found safe and well and both were wearing lifejackets.
Due to the worsening weather conditions slow progress was made for the three mile tow back to Cardiff Bay Barrage.
Both lifeboats eventually returned to the lifeboat station three hours after the launch.
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