Fishguard RNLI lifeboat responds to grounded yacht

Volunteers from Fishguard RNLI were called to the incident at Fishguard lower town quay where a yacht with one person on board was aground.

At 7.56pm on Saturday 9 May 2026 volunteers from Fishguard RNLI were paged with a request to launch the charity’s D-class inshore lifeboat (ILB) Edward Arthur Richardson.

The information received from HM Coastguard was that there was a 26ft yacht with one person on-board which had broken from its mooring near the quay and was now aground on the seaward side of the quay at Fishguard lower town.

The ILB launched and made best time to the casualty location. Once on scene the helm conducted an assessment of the situation and sea state.

With the tide rising and a northerly wind, the conditions were not favourable and swells coming in from the sea were picking the yacht up, and dropping it back down on the rocks below.

The position of the yacht and weather conditions meant access to assist the solo person on board onto shore was safest being conducted by coastguard personnel who were shore side. They successfully aided the sailor off the unpredictably moving yacht and back up the steps on the quay wall.

With nobody left onboard, the lifeboat was requested to stand by whilst coastguard undertook an assessment of the situation. Whilst awaiting further instruction the helm expertly handled the ILB to keep it facing the conditions to provide best safety for those onboard. Once all members of the public and coastguard were confirmed to be away from the water, the ILB was stood down and returned to station.

Fishguard RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, Cedwyn Rogers, said:

‘Fishguard's volunteer crew responded to a request from HM Coastguard to attend a yacht with one person on board that was being pushed onto rocks by the weather. Once on scene, the helm made an assessment and it was determined that given the proximity to the quay, and accessibility of the casualty vessel from shore, the most appropriate way in which to preserve life was for the casualty to be assisted from the yacht by coastguards.

'With the vessel already aground and the nature of the surf due to the northerly winds, it was not viable to attempt a tow without presenting further unnecessary risks to the lifeboat crew and casualty.’

'Once a vessel has grounded, the structural integrity and stability of a vessel is unknown, and to tow it off could compromise that further. In these situations, other means of assisting a casualty will be utilised. With the casualty sailor safe with HM Coastguard and no further persons near the water’s edge, the lifeboat returned to station.

‘If you, or you believe someone else is in trouble at sea, please call 999 or 112 and ask for Coastguard.’