TOWED OFF ROCKS Porthdinllaen, Caernarvonshire.

At 5.5 a.m. on i8th March, 1964, the coastguard told the honorary secretary that a Dutch motor vessel was ashore eight miles south-west of Porthdinllaen Point. There was a strong east-southeasterly breeze with a rough sea, and it was almost low water. The life-boat Charles Henry Ashley launched at 5.35 and found the motor vessel Lenie of Steendam fast aground by her bows. It was impossible to go alongside because of rocks and the coxswain decided to anchor to windward and veer down on the vessel's stern until the life-boat was close enough for a heaving line to be passed. A rope was made fast and as the tide flooded the Lenie was successfully towed off the rocks by the life-boat. After escorting the vessel for about five miles the coxswain was told the vessel was not damaged and was heading for Holyhead. The life-boat returned to her station at 9.20 but when off the slipway a message was received that the Lenie could not be contacted by radio telephone. In view of deteriorating weather, the coxswain decided to return and search for the vessel, but at 11.35 heard that the Lenie had arrived safely off Holyhead. The weather was so severe that the life-boat was unable to rehouse on return to her station and was moored instead.

As it was not considered safe for the boarding boat to put out the crew were taken off with the help of the local lifesaving apparatus team at 10.30 p.m.

The life-boat was rehoused the following afternoon..