Angling launch THE HONORARY SECRETARY of Beaumaris lifeboat station was informed by Penmon Coastguard at 1220 on Sunday December 13, 1981, that the 35ft angling launch Wygyr was in difficulties and needed urgent assistance off Puffin Island in the approaches to the Menai Straits.

A strong gale, force 9, was blowing from south south east, there was driving snow and it was freezing. Conditions on land were severe. An exceptionally high tide combined with the gales had flooded a large proportion of the town.

Seas were breaking freely over the sea wall.

Maroons were fired at 1230 and because the honorary secretary was cut off, the deputy launching authoritywent to the Atlantic 21 lifeboathouse and acted as launching authority throughout the service. A Land Rover belonging to one of the lifeboatmen took most of the crew to the station, sometimes ploughing through two feet of water. Motor Mechanic Eric Jones was helped by a Police patrol but their vehicle stalled in deep water and he finished the journey to the boathouse in a fire engine which had been engaged in pumping out flooded buildings.

Gaining access to the boathouse posed a further problem. The seas were breaking over the catwalk and spending themselves on the beach. Having passed this hazard and gained the comparative safety of the catwalk the crew found themselves facing the crests of seas which were rolling along the catwalk to a depth of some two to three feet on the lower section. By the time the crew gained the shelter of the boathouse they were all thoroughly drenched and bitterly cold.

Nevertheless, at 1245, the 46ft 9in Watson lifeboat Greater London II (Civil Service No 30) launched into the blizzard on service under the command of Coxswain David Gallichan. It was just after high water and the sea was very rough with breaking crests some three metres high. Because of the seas and the height of the tide it had been necessary to launch from the top of the slipway inside the boathouse, so that masts and aerials could not be raised until the lifeboat was afloat. With great difficulty the crew raised the mast but it proved too hazardous to attempt to raise the radar scanner or radio aerials.

Shortly after launching the windscreen wiper failed, causing severe visibility problems for Coxswain Gallichan.

A course was set down the straits towards Puffin Sound, with lookouts posted not only to look for the casualty but to act as 'eyes' for the coxswain.

Throughout this passage the lifeboat was pitching and rolling violently in a corkscrew motion. Eyewitnesses on shore soon lost sight of the lifeboat in the atrocious conditions, and although distress flares were fired from the casualty, they could not be seen by the lifeboat.

The VHP radio has a low profile emergency aerial, but a fault developed in the radio itself so that, until Puffin Sound was negotiated and Coxswain Gallichan could heave to in the comparative calm of the lee of the island to enable the crew to erect the aerials, communications were nil. Then, at 1320, once again in touch with Anglesey Radio on MF 2182 kHz, Coxswain Gallichan continued to search round the end of Puffin Island and to the south.

Nothing was seen. The lifeboat was continually being swept by breaking seas and she was rolling heavily. The radar operator only had one fleeting echo from Puffin Island because of the sea clutter and snow.

From information relayed from Penmon Coastguard through Anglesey Radio it was clear that Wygyr was being carried out through the Sound. The lifeboat returned back round the island and approached the sound from the north and, at 1353, the casualty was sighted near Perch Rock. At this time VHP communications were established with Penmon Coastguard.

The rising wind, now from the south east, was in excess of storm force and visibility remained poor. With the sea very rough and both boats pitching and rolling very heavily, Coxswain Gallichan considered it too dangerous to try to go alongside and take off Wygyr's crew. He therefore decided to try to tow the fishing boat to safety.

The lifeboat's windscreen was completely covered by a thick build up of snow and ice. Coxswain and crew, soaked before launching, were now feeling the effects of extreme cold.

Coxswain Gallichan took the lifeboat close alongside Wygyr, a heaving line was thrown and a tow line passed. The two anglers made fast the tow, but such was the rate of drift that both boats were by this time clear of Dinmor Buoy.

The tow began to the south, passing to the west of Dinmor Buoy and then east south east into the Sound. Wygyr was ranging heavily, placing considerably strain on the towing warp. It was decided to pass a second line and, after several attempts, this was finally achieved by floating the line down to the casualty. The tow was resumed and the lifeboat reported approaching the Sound at 1427. Very slow progress was being made as the effects of wind, sea and tide became more severe in the shallow water and constricted channel.

At 1517, when just past B2 Buoy, one of the tow lines chafed through and parted. Realising the serious risk of losing the tow altogether in the restricted sea room and very rough waters, Coxswain Gallichan decided that the two men must be taken off the casualty and that the only chance of achieving this end safely would be to head up into wind and sea and, with astern movements, gradually shorten in the tow bringing the boat up to the lifeboat's stern. This was an arduous manoeuvre calling for great skill and control from the coxswain and considerable efforts from the crew. Wygyr ranged alarmingly as the tow was taken in. At one time she ranged up alongside the lifeboat to starboard, rolling heavily so that the turn of her bilge crashed against the lifeboat damaging guardrail and fender. Then she came clear astern and took a sheer, coming up on the lifeboat's port side, stern to. As she came close both anglers took the opportunity to jump aboard the lifeboat. It was now 1535.

Although Coxswain Gallichan tried to resume the tow up the straits, it was only two minutes before the remaining warp parted and the casualty was quickly blown ashore at Trwyn Du, where she started to break up.

The lifeboat continued up the straitsto Menai Bridge. Visibility was so poor that the manager of the Gazelle Hotel was asked to put the hotel's lights on to assist navigation. The lifeboat berthed at Menai to land the two men at 1640 and returned to her mooring at 1730.

Because of the weather she was unable to rehouse until 1400 on Tuesday December 15.

For this service the bronze medal was awarded to Coxswain David W. Gallichan and medal service certificates were presented to Second Coxswain David Wynne Jones, Motor Mechanic Eric F. Jones, Emergency Mechanics David A. Cooke and John G. L. Parry and Crew Members Michael Witkowski, John Latchem, Brian J. Roberts and Joseph P. Kopyto. Letters of appreciation signed by Rear Admiral W. J.

Graham, director of the Institution, were sent to Shore Helpers Stanley Zalot, John M. Stone, David E. Jones and Peter Dickie..