Llandudno’s all-weather lifeboat William F Yates carried out a rescue of a stricken sailing vessel twenty-four nautical miles off the North Wales coast yesterday afternoon.

The lifeboat with a crew of six were tasked to locate and rescue a twenty-seven-foot sailing vessel with two crew on board. The vessel was reported to be in difficulty and drifting to the north of the Conwy drilling platform.

After launch, the Llandudno lifeboat proceeded twenty-four nautical miles north of the Great Orme to the reported location, once on scene and in communication with the Holyhead Coastguard the Coxswain agreed to place a crew member on board and to tow the sailing vessel to a safe location.

The lifeboat with the vessel in tow proceeded to make way toward Anglesey, on arrival at Puffin Island the vessel was met by the Beaumaris RNLI Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Annette Mary Liddington which took over the tow returning to a safe mooring in Beaumaris.

After a seven-hour operation the lifeboat finally made its journey back to Llandudno at 10.30 pm to be recovered and prepared for her next service by the awaiting shore crew.