'Pan-pan' alert from stricken sailor sees Anglesey lifeboat crew immediately dispatched

North Wales Live

15-06-2025

A stricken sailor issued a "pan-pan" alert after getting into trouble off the Anglesey coast. These alerts are issued when ships are in urgent need of assistance but not immediate life-threatening danger.
There were though fears a person had gone overboard and was in the water. HM Coastguard requested the immediate attendance of Holyhead lifeboat to that casualty, who was situated south-west of the Skerries.
The RNLI crew were already on the water when the divert call came in on Friday. They had earlier had an emergency call out to assist a group of kayakers at 11.43am. A member of the public had called 999, thinking the five kayakers looked to be in trouble.
Just after the all-weather lifeboat Frederick Storey Cockburn launched from her berth at Holyhead Port, HM Coastguard reported that the kayakers were all well and were simply sheltering from the winds, and there was no need for the lifeboat to attend. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
But the second alert then came in.
Holyhead RNLI said: "Another sailor had issued a 'pan-pan' signal, indicating he was in need of urgent assistance. HM Coastguard requested the lifeboat's immediate attendance to that casualty, who was situated south-west of the Skerries islet. The casualty had reported a problem with his mast, which meant he was unable to make any headway in the strong winds. It was also initially thought there may be a person in the water.
"The lifeboat reached the scene quickly, and found that there was no one in the water. The yacht had lost a sail from the port side, which had then been blown under the vessel and caught in the rudder. The sailor who had issued the pan-pan was also suffering from fatigue. The strong winds and 2 to 3-metre seas meant the yacht and sailor were in a vulnerable position.
"It was quickly decided that the best course of action would be tow the yacht to safety to Holyhead harbour. Once the casualty vessel had been towed into the calmer harbour waters, the ILB arrived to assist, and a crew member from the smaller lifeboat was placed on board the yacht to assist, and help bring the yacht and its occupant to safety.
"The casualty vessel was then placed onto a Holyhead Sailing Club mooring. Both lifeboats then left the scene and returned to their respective berths, and were made ready for any further calls."
Holyhead coxswain Mark Wade said: "The initial call to the kayakers was a false alarm with good intent. We then diverted to help this sailor on his yacht, who was well prepared with the correct equipment and a means of calling for help.