PENARTH’S RNLI team were paged shortly after midnight to assist a vessel in dire straits.

In the early hours of Tuesday morning, October 15, the volunteer crew were called to assist with an ongoing rescue of a yacht taking on water and without power.

Barry Dock lifeboat had the vessel under tow, but needed further assistance from their neighbouring crew to get the vessel into Cardiff Bay.

However due to the drop-in tide, it was deemed impractical to take the yacht - with two people and four dogs on board - through the Barrage.

It was instead towed to Barry dock, and placed on a Barry yacht club mooring.

The Atlantic lifeboat was recovered at 2:20am.

Portishead and Weston-super-Mare lifeboats were also involved earlier with the incident, as was coastguard helicopter 187 from St Athan, and the Coastguard.

Barry Dock lifeboat coxswain Martin Bowmer said: “It’s important for people going to sea to be aware of weather and tidal conditions before heading out, and to have adequate forms of communication.”

Penarth RNLI spokesman Andy Berry said: “This was a great example of multi agency teamwork, and proof that training really does pay off.”