THE MUMBLES

THE MUMBLES LIFEBOAT

ALB Shouts 2004

Date	Time	Weather	Crew	Detail of Service
27th November 2004	16:21 19:50	W Force 3	Martin Double Dai Thomas Richie Webborn Rob Tovey Russell Davies Richard Jeffries Ben Shepherd	Swansea Coastguard paged the crew to the fishing vessel Gowan Star who was suffering with engine difficulties 10 miles west of station near the Helwick Buoy. A passing fishing vessel Royal Manor who was on its way to Saundersfoot kindly offered to assist and began to tow Gowan Star back to Swanea. The ALB arrived on scene 40 minutes after launching and proceeded to take the tow to Swansea Marina. The ALB passed the tow back to Royal Manor outside the river mouth to Swansea Docks.
11th September 2004	15:40 16:30	SW Force 7-8	Martin Double Neil Chelley Huw Mathias Mathew Williams Ben Shepherd	The ALB was launched to search for a casualty spotted by a member of the Public swimming in difficult sea in Limeslade Bay. The ALB searched from Bracelet Bay into Limeslade Bay and were contacted by Swansea Coastguard who received a 999 call from the swimmer who had made it ashore. The swimmer had spotted both Lifeboats searching in the area. ALB was returned to her mooring.
8th September 2004	14:35 17:40	SE Force 3-4	Martin Double Steve Ace Huw Mathias Ben Shepherd Dan Wright Mike Jenkins	The ALB was tasked to a report of the vessel "Suzy - Q", a 50foot wooden power boat located in Oxwich Bay who was taking on water. Arriving on scene to assist the vessel were MCA Flacon, Horton Inshore Lifeboat and RAF Chivenor SAR Helicopter. RAF 169 lowered a pump to assist with the removal of the water. The ALB crew recovered Suzy-Q by tow and pulled her to Mumbles, where she would be able to dry in Swansea Bay to allow her crew to repair the damage. The ILB was launched 2 hours after the ALB to finish pulling Suzy-Q into the shoreline. At 20:00 RAF 169 Helicopter landed at Ashley Road to recover her pump from MCA Swansea.
24th August 2004	11:44 15:00	W Force 6	Martin Double Steve Ace Graham Wright Huw Mathias James Fillery	Porthcawl's Atlantic 75 was towing Gower Pride in difficult sea conditions after it had been trapped on Nash Point. The ALB took over the tow and brought Gower Pride back to the safety of Porthcawl harbour. Click here for more details.
2nd August 2004	09:15 11:00	E Force 5	Martin Double Graham Wright Rob Tovey Adam Bere	The ILB had been paged to assist a vessel off Tutt Head 20 minutes earlier. With the casualty in tow the ILB, due to weather conditions was only making headway at 3.8 knots. The ALB liased with Mumbles ILB at the West Fairway Buoy and took the tow to Swansea Marina. The ILB then assisted putting the vessel to berth.
1st August 2004	16:33 00:00	Light Airs	Martin Double Richie Webborn James Bolter Richard Jeffries Russell Davies Dan Wright Ben Shepherd	The ALB was tasked to attend a search for a missing scuba diver, 2 miles west of Port Eynon Point from Dive Boat "Manta". Three divers had been in the area, when one of the divers entered the water and fell 42 feet to the bottom. The ALB was tasked to carry out an extensive search of the area in conjunction with Horton and Port Eynon Lifeboat, Swansea Coastguard Teams, South Wales Police Scuba Divers, Police Officers, RAF Chivenor 169 and several concerned vessels in the area, including a lone Kayak who agreed to search along the shoreline. Two parallel track searches were carried out, taking into consideration the tidal affect. The lifeboat crew continued searching for 7 hours, after sunset, and on completion of the final track of the last search pattern the ALB on request from Swansea Coastguards liased with two Police Ribs and returned to Mumbles.
31st July 2004	16:00 17:05	Light Airs	Martin Double Mathew Williams James Bolter Russell Davies Richard Jeffries Dan Wright Ben Shepherd	A local fisherman had been fishing off Three Cliffs beach and was unable to start his engine. After contacting Swansea Coastguard the ALB was paged to tow the anchored vessel to its mooring in Mumbles. While on passage to Three Cliff the fisherman managed to start his engine. The ALB monitored the vessel Sophie Jayne as she returned to Mumbles.
25th July 2004	15:35 16:10	NW Force 5-6	Martin Double Steve Ace Dan Wright Russell Davies Mark Jones Mike Jenkins Rob Jenkins Richard Jeffries	Whilst at sea the ALB spotted a Jet Ski in difficulty on the Mixon sand bank. The ALB proceeded to contact the ILB to attend the scene to assist with the casualty. The ILB took tow of the jet ski and transferred its occupant to the ALB in order to tow the vessel back to Knabb Rock. Friends of the Jet Skier returned to the scene unaware of the difficulty faced and proceeded to follow the ILB back to Mumbles.
24th July 2004	21:55 01:50	W Force 3-4	Martin Double Steve Ace Graham Wright Dan Wright Glyn Allen Rob Tovey Russell Davies James Bolter Adam Bere Mike Jenkins	The ALB was tasked to assist 38 Feet Yacht "Mantra" positioned south of the Scar Weather Sand Bank. The 2 crew on board were suffering from the effect of the sea and were unable to return safely to Swansea Marina without assistance. The ALB located Mantra from navigation position passed by her skipper. Once on scene the ALB transferred 2 crew on board, made difficult by the swell. Once on board the crew fixed the tow line to the bow of the boat and commenced our return to Swansea Marina. Travelling at a rate of 5.5 Knots the ALB informed the casualty and Swansea Coastguard that the return passage would take 2 hours and 20 minutes. Entering the River Tawe the Yacht was taken along side and towed to the pontoon, to the awaiting Coastguard Mobile Team. With all crew back on board the ALB returned to station in the early our of Sunday morning.
18th July 2004	11:01 12:55	W Force 2	Martin Double James Bolter Russell Davies Richard Jeffries Dan Wright Mike Jenkins Mark Jones	The ALB was tasked to a report of a Yacht suffering with a fire on board 1/2 mile off Langland Bay. The ALB tracked the casualty by the support of a passing yacht which had given assistance. The Yacht Wizard crew had managed to contain the fire, but had lost all electrical supply to the boat, which meant the failure of the engine and other essential equipment on board. The ALB assisted by the new Inshore Lifeboat passed a tow and took the boat to Swansea Marina. At the Marina entrance IB1 took an alongside tow to return the yacht to its mooring jetty. Yacht Wizard had 4 POB - 8 Crew, 2 Lifeboats and a very supportive Yacht Owner assisted in this service launch. For more details of this service, including photographs click here.
4th July 2004	11:36 13:40	W Force 3 - 4	Martyn Double Neil Chelley Richard Jeffeires Rob Jenkins Dai Thomas Rob Tovey Mike Jenkins Dan Wright	The 11 metre pleasure fishing craft Lady Helen, was out on a fishing trip 5 miles south west of the lifeboat station. The vessel was suffering with engine failure and was carrying 9 Persons on board. The ALB recovered Lady Helen and returned her to Swansea Marina.
6th June 2004	16:55 20:30	Thick Fog	Richie Webborn Steve Ace Mathew Williams Dai Thomas Graham Wright Huw Mathias	The ALB was tasked by Swansea Coastguard following a report received by Yacht "Blue Jay of a casualty found in the water 9 miles South West of Mumbles Head in the Bristol Channel. The ALB attended scene through dense fog and proceeded to recover the casualty on board the Lifeboat. The ALB returned to station and passed the incident to South Wales Police.
31st May 2004	17:01 17:05	SE Force 6	Richie Webborn Steve Ace Ben Shepherd Mathew Williams Richard Jeffries Mike Jenkins Mark Jones	While landing the Catamaran (see below) the ALB has gone to recover a person who had been thrown overboard while rowing to his moored vessel. The ALB recovered all items and the ILB was used to return the casualty to shore and met by the Coastguards, who were also taking part in the display.
31st May 2004	16:36 17:00	SE Force 6	Richie Webborn Steve Ace Ben Shepherd Mathew Williams Richard Jeffries Mike Jenkins Mark Jones	During the Swansea Bay Navy Days Display both ILB and ALB were asked to assist a small Catamaran in difficulty off the sea front at South End. The ILB manoeuvred alongside and rigged up an alongside tow. The ALB stood off in the SE Force 6 as a precaution. The ILB towed the vessel into deeper water and then on to Knabb Rock where it was recovered ashore.
8th May 2004	16:02 20:30		Martin Double Dai Thomas Richie Webborn Ben Shepherd James Bolter Richard Jeffries Dan Wright Adam Bere	Mumbles ALB "Ethel Anne Measures" was requested to launch to a 25ft yacht taking on water off Porthcawl. Porthcawl`s Atlantic 75 was already on scene but their pump was struggling to cope with the ingress of water. Mumbles ALB arrived on scene 35 minutes later where two crew members were transferred to the Yacht with a salvage pump by Porthcawl ILB. After boarding the vessel one of the Yachts crew was taken off and returned to Porthcawl by the Atlantic due to Sea Sickness. Once on board the Mumbles Crew members quickly stemmed the ingress of water with the more powerful pump and the yacht continued under its own steam to Swansea Marina escorted by the ALB, the Mumbles Crew continually had to pump out the vessels forward cabin. Once in Swansea Marina the ALB was released to return to Station.
29th March 2004	17:54 19:19	Fine, Calm	Martin Double Steve Ace Richie Webborn Rob Tovey Emma Mathias Russell Davies Simon Evans	Following a Mayday distress call the ALB was launched to the immediate assistance of a power cruiser which had struck rocks and was taken on water in Langland Bay. Two crew were transferred to the vessel to ascertain damage, which fortunately was limited. The boat was towed to Swansea Marina where the 2 Persons and 1 pet were left to safety.
15th February 2004	16:29 18:40	N Force 3	Martin Double Steve Ace Richard Jeffries Ben Shepherd Ben Williams Graham Wright James Bolter	Mumbles ALB was launched to assist Horton ILB who were towing a 27ft Power Boat that was suffering with engine difficulties. The ALB took the tow from Horton and proceeded to bring the boat back to Swansea Marina. 4 Persons on Board.
11th January 2004	13:50 16:50	Thick Fog	Richie Webborn Gary Tiller Steve Ace Ben Shepherd Mathew Williams Glyn Ovens Adam Bere	The All Weather Lifeboat was tasked to assist a Small Fishing Vessel lost in thick fog 5 miles east of the Station. The crew located the vessel using the VHF locator and assisted to direct the fishing vessel to safe water. 3 Persons on board.