THE MUMBLES

Mumbles ALB requested to launch following the spoken word "Mayday" three times on VHF channel 16. Swansea Coastguard attempted to call the source back on numerous occasions. Following the radio signal being received on the Mumbles aerial, a search was initiated within Swansea Bay. the ALB was tasked to search from Mumbles Light House to Port Talbot East Breakwater and proceed to carryout a parallel track search gently working into Swansea Bay at 0.5 miles Track Spacing. Mumbles ALB was accompanied by Rescue Helicopter 169 from Chivenor and Mobile Rescue Teams from Mumbles & Port Talbot.

As the Search continued, Swansea Coastguard picked up another signal which when tracked indicated the source to be in the Loughor area. Loughor Coastguard Rescue team was then also dispatched along with Rescue 169 being retasked to DF the signal in an attempt to locate the source. After 3 hrs searching and due to the content of further overheard radio conversations, the Search was scaled down deemed to be a Malicious Hoax. Mumbles ALB returned to Station.

Thursday 13th October 2005

17:10

21:30

W Force 3

Martin Double

Steve Ace

James Bolter

Glyn Allen

Chris Jeffries

Nigel Garner

Rob Jenkins

Dan Wright

The ALB made best speed to a position 11 miles South of Mumbles Head. a 47ft yacht had suffered an on board fire and electrical damage. In the panic one of the two crew on board gashed his head trying to contain the damage to the yacht. In the disruption the yacht started to take on water as a result of the damage.

In light of the difficulties faced by the crew they contacted Swansea Coastguard by mobile phone as their VHF radio was inoperable and requested assistance. The ALB crew located the casualty and used mobile phones to speak to each other.

A crew member was placed on board to assess the situation and offer assistance, including any medical support. It was agreed that it was safe to tow the yacht to the safety of Swansea Marina. A towline was passed and the vessel pulled at safe speed to the Marina and awaiting Mumbles Coastguard Team.

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Tuesday 11th October 2005

20:18

23:05

SW Force 3

Rob Tovey

Steve Ace

James Bolter

Richard Jeffries

Glyn Allen

Russell Davies

Chris Jeffries

Adam Bere

The Police were informed of an incident with a member of the public threatening to jump off the West Pier Swansea. Swansea Coastguard paged the All Weather Lifeboat to conduct a search of the area near the West Pier, taking into consideration the Search Area Determination. In order to assist the search the ILB was requested to launch, as well as coastguard team who carried out a sweep of the Water line near Swansea Observatory.

During the search RAF Chivenor Rescue Helicopter 169 was also requested to assist with the search. After almost three hours of searching by 5 teams using paraflares, search lights, infra red imaging the search was called off with no persons found.

Both ALB and ILB returned to station.

Tuesday 6th September 2005

17:51

18:30

Light Airs

Martin Double

Neil Chelley

Dai Thomas

Mathew Williams

Rob Jenkins

Nigel Garner

The ALB launched to back up Mumbles ILB on an incident involving a swimmer in difficulty between Hunts Bay and Foxhole. The ALB was making way past Caswell, when the call was received to stand down after the ILB had successfully recovered a casualty.

Monday 5th September 2005

06:30

09:35

S Force 2-3

Martin Double

Steve Ace

James Bolter

Richard Jeffries

Russell Davies

Chris Jeffries

Mathew Williams

Adam Bere

A EPIRB - Emergency Positioning Indicating Radio Beacon was triggered 5 miles south of Mumbles Head. The ALB crew launched and using DF Radio (Directional Finder) traced the course of the EPIRB to it's last known coordinates provided by Swansea Coastguards.

Once on scene there was no visual sign of any EPIRB or Vessel, the ALB crew were asked to conduct a sector search 1 mile each side of the last known location. Following a 2 hour search of the area the ALB was stood down after no sighting of any person or vessel in the area.

Thursday 1^st September 2005

19:57

22:45

NW Force 2-3

Martin Double

Steve Ace

Graham Wright

Rob Tovey

Chris Howell

James Bolter

Mathew Williams

Chris Jeffries

Adam Bere

Mumbles ALB requested to launch to the assistance of a 21ft pleasure craft that was disabled and drifting 5 miles South South West of Oxwich Point.

Mumbles ALB launched on service at 2015 and made best speed toward the casualties last known position. Once underway communication was made with the vessel "Scamp" and its single occupant. ALB located vessel 4 miles south of Port Eynon Point at 2050 and after drawing alongside successfully passed a tow. A course was set to Swansea and the ALB agreed to meet the ILB in the mouth of the Tawe due to the falling tide. Once the tow was handed to ILB at 2300, the ALB returned to Station.

Wednesday 24th August 2005

20:30

23:00

SW Force 6

Rob Tovey

Steve Ace

Huw Mathias

Kevin Rees

Mike Jenkins

Rob Jenkins

Swansea Coastguard requested the attendance of both ILB and ALB to a 999 call reporting a fisherman being washed off rocks at Snaple Point, Langland Bay. The ALB was released form the previous days incident in Swansea Dock and made full speed to Langland in order to act as an escort for Mumbles ILB, who had launched shortly before. Once on scene the ALB conducted a parallel track search off shore which concluded with a tandem parallel track search with the ILB. Due to no further sightings and no one reported as missing the ALB was released and returned to station.

Police Helicopter Whiskey Oscar 99 concluded with a search over the area and confirmed no sightings.

Wednesday 24th August 2005

16:12

19:45

SW Force 4

Rob Tovey

Steve Ace

Kevin Rees

Huw Mathias

Rob Jenkins

Mike Jenkins

The crew were paged to the report of the Steam Ship Balmoral was taking on water off the Bull Ring near Swansea Marina. The crew made way to the scene and found the Balmoral with 3 metres of water in her engine room. The salvage pump was quickly set up to start extracting the water from the ship. 5 Fire tenders and the Fire Rescue Inshore Inflatable Dinghy also attended the scene. RAF rescue helicopter 169 also stood by to watch as the pumping took place.

Wednesday 17th August 2005

19:20

23:05

Light Airs

Richie Webborn

Dai Thomas

James Bolter

Russell Davies

Mathew Williams

Emma Mathias

Mike Jenkins

Both Mumbles All Weather Lifeboat and Horton Inshore Lifeboat were tasked to a 30ft motor boat suffering with propulsion failure West of Overton, Gower. Horton ILB located the casualty and commenced a tow at 3 knots. They were met by the Mumbles All Weather Lifeboat near Overton and the tow was passed.

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Tuesday 16th August 2005

16:36

18:15

Light Airs

Rob Tovey

Dai Thomas

James Fillery

Rob Jenkins

Mark Jones

Chris Vaughan

The ALB crew were tasked to locate a EPIRB signal that was being transmitted in the area. Following the request of Swansea Coastguards the boat launched and used the Directional Finder (DF) Radio to track the signal which was transmitting on 121.5Mhz. The ALB tracked its course to Margam Burrows where local fishing boats were questioned. The crew were unable to locate any vessel or people in difficulty and were stood down by the Coastguard team.

Rescue Helicopter 169 diverted from a training exercise to follow the signal which was thought to be inland. Eventually the signal was traced to an aircraft near St Asaph, South Glamorgan which had inadvertently been activated.

Monday 11th July 2005

10:20

11:10

Light Airs

Martin Double

Steve Ace

2 x Divisional Inspectors

Whilst carrying out a routine inspection the RNLI crew spotted a 10ft power boat drifting towards the Swigg Buoy in Swansea Bay. The ALB crew transferred to the Boarding Boat and recovered the 2 adults and 2 children to shore.

Their engine had failed to start and were speedily drifting into the Channel.

Monday 4th July 2005

17:13

19:30

NW Force 5-6

Martin Double

Steve Ace

Mike Jenkins

Rob Jenkins

Chris Jeffries

Mathew Williams

The ALB was tasked to a 26 feet Motor Cruiser "Spring Tide" which had fouled its propeller on rope in Swansea Bay. The crew located the vessel, passed a tow line and proceeded to tow the cruiser back to Swansea Marina.

She was safely berthed before the crew returned to station.

Thursday 23rd June 2005

17:55

18:40

SW Force 2

Rob Tovey

Dai Thomas

Dan Wright

Russell Davies

Mathew Williams

Mike Jenkins

The crew were on exercise in Swansea Bay and overheard the Mumbles Coastguard Team being paged to a reported heart attack casualty on the beach near the West Cross Inn.

As the ALB carries medical support the Coxswain offered assistance to the incident. The ALB stood off the shoreline while paramedic teams responded to the call.

Two crew had been prepared to row ashore on the All Weather Boats X-Craft and first aid and oxygen.

Wednesday 22nd June 2005

22:25

Light Airs

Martin Double

Steve Ace

Richie Webborn

Rob Tovey

Chris Howells

Mathew Williams

Russell Davies

Swansea Coastguards had received a report of red flares spotted off Langland Bay.

The ALB crew were preparing to launch when the service launch was stood down by Swansea Coastguards.

Sunday 12th June 2005

11:23

12:30

NW Force 3

Richie Webborn

Dai Thomas

Dan Wright

Nigel Garner

Mike Jenkins

Chris Vaughan

The ALB was already at sea in preparation for an exercise with Mumbles ILB. Swansea Coastguard made radio contact reporting a casualty in the water off Pennard Cliffs. The ALB proceeded to the scene. Due to the close proximity to the shore the ILB carried out its service while the ALB crew maintained a close watch.

Following support from Heli-Med and RAF Sea King 169, Coastguard teams, Police and Ambulance the ALB returned to station.

Tuesday 7th June 2005

18:54

23:30

SE Force 3

Richie Webborn

Steve Ace

James Bolter

Dai Thomas

Mathew Williams

Chris Jeffries

Rob Jenkins

Mark Jones

The ALB was tasked to assist a casualty vessel which had broken down 7 miles south of Mumbles Head. As the crew were preparing to launch the crew were given a new position 18 miles south of Mumbles. The vessel "Travester" had suffered 2 engine failure 2 miles North of Ilfracombe and requested to be towed toward Swansea. Ilfracombe ALB had already taken the tow North and were met 6 Miles North of Ilfracombe by the Mumbles ALB. The tow was passed and the ALB pulled "Travestor" 14 miles back to Swansea.

Friday 13th May 2005

08:55

18:25

E Force 6

Martin Double

Steve Ace

Graham Wright

Dan Wright

David Thomas

Ben Shepherd

Nigel Garner

A 999 call was received from a female who had managed to swim back to land from Worms Head. A male and female had been camping on the Head overnight and tried to make it back ashore in the morning. The tide was higher than they expected, but elected to swim across. The male was unable to swim against the tide and was washed out to sea.

A major sea search was carried out by 3 lifeboats from Mumbles, Horton and Bury Port, RAF Chivenor Sea King Helicopter, Swansea Coastguards and mobile teams, as well as South Wales Police.

Following almost 10 hours of searching the rescue was called off in the early evening. Coastguard teams would resume the search across the shoreline as the tide dropped the following day.

Sunday 1st May 2005

14:44

14:55

Light Airs - Foggy

Martin Double

Steve Ace

Graham Wright

James Bolter

Richard Jeffries

Russell Davies

Rob Jenkins

Swansea Coastguard had been working with Porthcawl Lifeboat for approximately 1 hour searching for a 23ft Power Boat suffering with engine failure. Due to weather conditions being foggy and the affect of the tide the power boat was believed to have drifted south of Mumbles Head.

In order to speed the recovery of the vessel, which was not in imminent danger the Coastguards made the decision to launch the Mumbles All Weather Lifeboat with its ability to locate a vessel by using Directional Finder (DF).

As the crew were assembled and in the process of launching Porthcawl Lifeboat were able to find the casualty and give assistance.

Saturday

5th March 2005

13:13

15:30

N Force 5 -6

Richie Webborn

Dai Thomas

Ben Shepherd

Dan Wright

Chris Jeffries

Chris Vaughan (First Shout)

Yacht Riolante and her two crew found themselves in difficulty on Saturday in Swansea Bay. The yacht was suffering with engine failure and could not be started, this was also compounded by the fact that the VHF radio was also broken. The crew launched on the boarding boat and on route to the ALB placed two crew on board the yacht to provide assistance. The rest of the crew went to the ALB and released her from the mooring and set up a tow line to pull the yacht to Swansea Marina.

This was also the first shout for our new probationer Chris Vaughan.

Sunday 20th February 2005

16:11

18:30

N Force 4-5

Richie Webborn

Neil Chelly

James Bolter

Richard Jeffries

Rob Tovey

Chris Jeffries

Mike Jenkins

Rob Jenkins

Mumbles ALB requested to assist the 23ft Yacht "Camino" which was disabled 2.5 miles SW of the River Neath. She was suffering from steering failure and an electrical fault. ALB slipped from her moorings at 1625 and proceeded to the casualties last know position. Once on scene, two crew members, were placed on board in order to assist. Having boarded the casualty vessel, the emergency steering was rigged and the power restored. Under her own steam, the yacht was able to proceed back towards monkstone escorted by Mumbles ALB and a local vessel, "Spindrift". Once "Camino" was safely outside the mouth of the monkstone marina, the ALB retrieved the two crew members and returned to Mumbles.

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Tuesday 08 February 2005

2115hrs - 0100hrs

Martin Double

Steve Ace

James Bolter

Richard Jeffries

Ben Shepherd

Dai Thomas

Matthew Williams

Adam Bere

ALB Launched to MFV Gowan Star who was suffering from Gear Box Failure in a Position 51'29.788N 004'02.999W and was drifting in a Westerly Direction at 3knts. Once on scene, ALB connected a tow and proceeded to return Gowan Star back to a Tawe River, Swansea where the crew could effect repairs. ALB returned to Moorings at 0100hrs.

30th January 2005

14:35

18:35

W Force 4

Rob Tovey

Dai Thomas

Graham Wright

Ben Shepherd

Russell Davies

Chris Jeffries

Mathew Williams

The ALB was tasked following the launch of Porthcawl Lifeboat - Giles at 13:56. A 33ft fishing vessel Niky Lou had lost her engine and drifted onto the Scar Weather sand bank. The Porthcawl crew had managed to get a line aboard the casualty, but with a falling tide this became more difficult. The vessel grounded on the sand bank and with waves pushing the boat further back the vessel started to dig deeper into the bank.

As the ALB arrived on scene Porthcawl crew were safety conscious and pointed out a severe lack of water - with only 4 feet draught the ALB was unable to get close to the casualty. It was agreed to use the Atlantic Towline, already aboard the Niky Lou to hawl in stronger ALB tow line. Both crews attached the line and proceeded to feed out the thicker line. On several occasions the ALB struck the soft sand and was manouvered to safer water some way off. As the line passed in the water it drifted with the tide and the three crew on board the casualty vessel were unable to pull the towline on board.

Radio contact with the casualty confirmed that two of its crew were suffering with cold wet weather and were unable to assist. Mumbles ALB requested the line be made as safe as possible in an attempt to pull the vessel off the sand bank. With line attached to the samson post the tow commenced. With tension on the line it was apparent that it was difficult to achieve any propulsion. Eventually under tension the thinner rope of the Atlantic broke free. The ALB recovered the line and both crews re-assessed the situation.

It was agreed to pass the X Craft alongside the casualty to remove the three crew from the vessel. The Atlantic Crew, due to draught restriction took an ALB crew member on board and proceeded ahead of tide. As time passed the tide turned and start to flood the sand bank. With rising water Niky Lou freed herself from the bank and drifted South East from her position. Porthcawl Crew took speed and safely went around the bank and passed a tow to the vessel. The ALB followed taking into consideration other fishing trawlers in the vicinity and took up the tow.

Niky Lou was towed back to the breakwater at Porthcawl where she was anchored in safety. Porthcawl removed two crew from the casualty and transferred them to another fishing vessel who was attempting to recover nets.

In all 11 volunteer crew, with the support of Swansea Coastguards and two lifeboat station shore crews, assisted in this service launch.