LIFEBOAT MAGAZINE ARCHIVE

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A Punt and a Canoe

THREE LIFE-BOAT CALLS IN FOUR HOURS Moelfre, Anglesey. At 1.20 on the afternoon of Friday, August 23rd, 1963, the Moelfre coastguard reported that an 8-foot punt with two on board was in serious difficulties four and a half miles south-south-west of the life-boat house.

The life-boat Watkin Williams was launched at 1.30 in a near gale from the south-south-west and steep seas. A helicopter took off one of the occupants of the punt and the life-boat rescued the other and towed the boat to Red Wharf Bay, where he was landed. The life-boat returned to her station at 2.50. Immediately after the crew had taken off their life-jackets another call was received from Benllech police to say that a canoe with a boy on board was in difficulties.

The life-boat was relaunched and at 2.54 found the canoe and boy on the rocks at Benllech Bay. The canoe and its occupant was taken in tow to Red Wharf Bay. Here yet another call was received to search for an object believed to be in distress four miies east-north-east of Benllech beach. The life-boat and helicopter made a thoroughsearch but found only a yacht racing marker buoy and returned to their stations at 5.10 p.m..