June 24, 2026 - 142 views
A lone skipper was brought safely back to shore after suffering steering failure off the Great Orme, prompting a call-out for Llandudno RNLI.
The charity’s all-weather lifeboat launched on Monday after HM Coastguard received reports that a 30-foot rigid inflatable boat (RIB) was drifting around one-and-a-half nautical miles west of the Great Orme.
The vessel, which had one person on board, had developed steering problems and was being carried towards the headland by the rising tide.
The skipper acted quickly by dropping anchor to stop the boat drifting further before contacting HM Coastguard for assistance. An “any vessels” broadcast was also issued to see if any nearby boats could help.
Llandudno RNLI’s volunteer crew arrived to find the vessel secure at anchor in relatively calm conditions. After assessing the situation, the coxswain decided the safest option was to tow the disabled boat to the nearest safe harbour.
The lifeboat established a tow and escorted the vessel to Conwy, where it was safely secured alongside Beacons Jetty.
Coxswain Luke Heritage praised the skipper’s actions and explained why the decision was taken to tow the vessel.
He said: “Once on scene, it was clear the skipper wasn’t in immediate danger, but they were unable to continue their journey due to the steering failure. With very little protection from the sun on an exposed RIB during a particularly warm day, we decided that towing the vessel to Conwy was the best outcome for everyone involved.”
The RNLI is reminding anyone heading out on the water to ensure their vessel is well maintained, carry suitable means of communication and contact HM Coastguard immediately if they get into difficulty.
