Holyhead, Anglesey - At 12.29 a.m.

on i8th April, 1966, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that the m.v. Kilkenny had sighted red flares about 10 miles north-west of Skerries lighthouse. There was a gale from the east-north-east with a very rough sea.

The tide was ebbing. The life-boat St.

Cybi (Civil Service No. 9) was launched 10 minutes later and proceeded to the position given. At 2.5 the Kilkenny reported that she had taken the crew of five off the yacht Shelmelier and was going to meet the life-boat. The life-boat, however, was unable to take the five survivors off the Kilkenny due to the very heavy seas and severe weather conditions.

At 2.58 the life-boat came up with the yacht and a tow line was made fast but this parted at 9.14 and, as the seas were too rough to make fast a further line, the yacht was abandoned. The life-boat returned to her station, arriving at 11.25.

She was placed on moorings in the inner harbour until the weather moderated sufficiently for her to be rehoused at 8 p.m. A donation was made to the Institution by the owner of the yacht..