The volunteer RNLI crew at Tenby put their brand new lifejackets to the test for the very first time last week after being called out to investigate a yacht adrift.

As reported in last week's issue, the Tamar class all-weather lifeboat was launched when Milford Haven Coastguard received a report from a sail training vessel that they had spotted a yacht adrift three miles south of St. Govans.

The volunteer RNLI crew donned their kit, including the modern new lifejackets purchased as a result of the successful lifejackets for lifesavers campaign, and headed to the location.

Phil John, Tenby RNLI coxswain, said: "This is the first time the new lifejackets have been used in a real rescue situation and the entire crew were amazed at the difference they made. They are so much more comfortable and manoeuvrable, allowing us to get on with the job we have been called out to do."

After identifying that the vessel had been moored in Dale and somehow parted its moorings overnight and drifted to its present position, a volunteer crew member was put on board to secure a tow rope and the yacht was towed to Tenby.

The vessel was then put on a secure mooring.

Tenby are just one of the Welsh RNLI crews who have now received their lifejackets, thanks to the success of a campaign to raise more than £185,500 - the cost of providing new lifejackets for volunteer crews at 31 lifeboat stations from Flint to Penarth.

Thanks to an excellent response from the public, the lifejackets have been purchased and are in the process of being rolled out.

Barry Dock was the first lifeboat station in Wales to receive the new kit, followed by The Mumbles, St. Davids, Barmouth, Porthdinllaen, Moelfre, New Quay and Rhyl.

RNLI crews at Angle and Fishguard have received their lifejackets and Cardigan and Little and Broad Haven are to receive their new lifejackets and training this week. Deliveries at the remaining stations are expected throughout April and May.

RNLI trainers will now be hard at work training the crews in how to use the modern pieces of search and rescue equipment.