July 20, 2026 - 247 views
A yacht which became stranded beneath the Great Orme earlier this summer has been successfully removed from the coastline following a challenging recovery operation involving Conwy Harbour staff and specialist salvage contractors.
The wreck of the Vanguard II was lifted from its position on the rocks by Conwy County Borough Council's Harbour Team, working alongside Barmouth-based marine salvage specialists UIMS.
The vessel had remained lodged beneath the Great Orme after running aground, prompting concerns about navigation safety and the potential environmental impact of the wreck if it remained in place.
Conwy Harbour Master Matt Forbes said the operation required careful planning, favourable weather conditions and precise timing with the tides.
"As there were multiple holes in the vessel's hull, it was floated using six large air bags and winched off the rocks using the harbour mooring vessel," he explained.
The remote location of the wreck created significant logistical challenges, with all equipment having to be transported to the site by sea.
Mr Forbes said the recovery team had been waiting for a suitable combination of calm weather and high tides to carry out the operation safely.
"A good forecast on Friday meant the team worked hard through the week to rig the chains necessary to hold the airbags in place in time," he said.
"Despite leaving Conwy at 5am on Friday, the wreck was rigged with only minutes to spare on the rising tide."
Divers wearing dry suits worked in temperatures of around 23C to recover airbags from the water before securing them to the vessel.
Once afloat, the Vanguard II was towed back across the bay to a beach within Conwy Harbour, where it will now be disposed of.
Mr Forbes described the tow back to harbour as "its final voyage".
The operation brings an end to a lengthy chapter which began when the yacht became stranded beneath one of North Wales' most recognisable landmarks. The incident attracted widespread public interest, with many walkers and visitors spotting the vessel from the Great Orme and the surrounding coastline in recent weeks.
The cost of the recovery operation was met by the vessel's insurers.
