THE crew of St Davids RNLI Lifeboat were paged twice over the weekend of May 9 and 10 to give assistance to the yacht ‘Calypso’ which was on passage around St David’s Head.

On Saturday, May 9, the skipper of the yacht was struggling to get an anchor to hold in Porth Melgan, with the wind in the NE and blowing F6-7, while waiting for suitable conditions to round St David’s Head. With Milford Haven Coastguard monitoring the situation and after discussion with St Davids RNLI via the RNLI Lifeguards at Whitesands, the yacht skipper headed for the RNLI casualty mooring at St Justinians to make fast for the night and ride-out the weather.

Picking up the mooring proved difficult while single-handed in the conditions. Assistance was initially provided by a local small boat, before the D-Class ILB was launched at 5.30pm to ensure the yacht was fully secured for the night.

The crew were paged again at 8.29am on Sunday, May 10 after the skipper reported that their propeller had become fouled while leaving the moorings at St Justinians. The D-Class ILB was requested to assist in freeing the prop. Happily, the yacht got free, and the crew were stood down before launching. The yacht was able to head north as planned and the crew of St Davids RNLI wished ‘Calypso’ and its skipper a safe onward voyage.

St Davids Lifeboat Station has been launching lifeboats since 1867. Crews have been awarded with 14 medals for gallantry, five Silver and nine Bronze. In September 2019, the station celebrated its 150th anniversary with a service at the Cathedral at which the D Class inshore lifeboat Marian and Alan Clayton was officially named and accepted into the lifesaving fleet.

The station is open for visiting Monday to Friday, 10am - 4pm.