OVER one weekend in August there were four shouts for Angle RNLI’s busy lifeboat crew.

Just after 9am on Saturday, August 15, the crew were tasked following multiple reports of a flare sighting in the Pennar Gut area of Pembroke.

The lifeboat launched shortly after and began a search of Pennar Gut while the lifeboats inflatable Y boat was deployed to search the Pembroke River. Additionally, multiple commercial vessels working in the area had been contacted by the coastguard.

Following a thorough search of the area with nothing found, no sightings from other vessels or other corroborating reports the crew were stood down. The lifeboat was back alongside her berth by 11am.

On the Saturday afternoon, the crew were tasked to conduct a welfare check on the lone occupant of a 36ft yacht reported as overdue on passage from Cornwall to Milford Haven. The vessel had been located 16 miles west-southwest of St Ann’s Head.

The lifeboat arrived on scene in 40 minutes and observed the vessel making slow progress under sail. The crew were soon able to establish comms with the skipper, who revealed he had at the last minute decided to make way to Fishguard instead of Milford Haven.

After confirming all was well onboard and establishing that he had suitable methods of raising the alarm should he get into difficulty, the crew requested he contacted the coastguard on his handheld VHF radio every hour to give a welfare check until his arrival at Fishguard.

On Sunday 16, shortly after 6pm, the crew were tasked to investigate concern for a person believed to be cut off by the tide on the end of The Pole, a reef off Freshwater West Beach.

Broadcast action had been taken by the coastguard with a local charter fishing vessel responding to investigate but as they were unable to safely get close enough to the reef to confirm the person’s welfare and intentions the lifeboat was requested to assist.

The lifeboat launched and made the journey around to Freshwater West, arriving on scene 18 minutes later. Once again the lifeboat’s inflatable Y boat was deployed and the crew made their way in to investigate.

After speaking with the person, the crew learned they were spear fishing, having used a paddleboard to access the reef. Content that no assistance was required, the crew recovered the Y boat and returned to station. The lifeboat was back alongside once again by 7.30pm.

On the Monday, at 4.34pm the crew were tasked to assist Milford Haven Harbour Patrol with a 26ft yacht with a fouled propellor off the Jolly Sailor. Being unable to both free the propellor and tow the vessel the Harbour Patrol requested assistance from the lifeboat.

The crew were soon on scene and assisted in freeing the vessel before taking it under tow to Lawrenny. With the vessel safely back on its mooring the crew were stood down and returned to station. The lifeboat was back ready for further service by 7pm.