Anglers all at sea Three anglers in an ill-equipped 12ft open boat had a lucky escape at Penarth on 28 February 1989 when their anchor started dragging in a Force 7 wind and 8ft to 13ft seas and their outboard engine failed to start.

The station's Dclass inflatable was launched at 1254 and reached the men just six minutes later. In his return of service station honorary secretary Captain Graham Sommerfield emphasised how lucky the three had been, saying that in another five minutes they could have drowned as their boat was swept into heavy seas and swell off Lavernock Point.

In the event they were brought ashore in just over half-an-hour and their boat towed to safety.

The three were given some 'advice' by the Coastguard after their rescue, variously described in the local press as a 'ticking-off and a 'rocket'..