Three lifeboats stand by sailing barque in severe weather Three lifeboats were launched in winds of up to Force 11 when the Jersey registered sailing barque Kaskelot, with 17 people aboard, reported that her anchor would not hold and that her auxiliary engine was unable to cope with the conditions on 4 February 1990.Kaske/ot was on passage from Liverpool to the Canary Islands and was anchored in the lee of Anglesey when the master contacted Holyhead coastguard at 1812, requesting a tug as his anchor would not hold in the Force 9 winds.

As the tug could not reach the casualty for some three hours, Moelfre's Tyne class lifeboat Robert and Violet was launched in winds touching Force 11 and arrived to stand by her at 2120.

At 0016 the following morning the tug Avon Goch took Kaskelot in tow, with the lifeboat standing by, but by 0246 the line had parted. It was decided to wait for daylight before trying to re-establish the tow and at 0400 the Beaumaris Watson class lifeboat The Robert launched in gale force winds and rough seas to relieve Robert and Violet, taking over the escort at 0725.

Weather conditions were so severe when the Tyne returned to Moelfre that she was taken to shelter nearby, arriving at 0946.

The Robert continued to stand by the casualty, which had reported that the broken tow line had fouled her propeller when it parted. This was cleared at 0928 and Kaskelot decided to make for Liverpool under her own power, escorted by the tug and the Beaumaris lifeboat.

At 0937 Lytham St Anne's Tyne class Sarah Emily Harrop was launched to relievethe Watson, arriving at the casualty at 1110.

She then took over the escort duty, allowing The Robert to return to her station at Beaumaris by 1600. Conditions at her station were also so bad that she could not be rehoused for two days.

Lytham's lifeboat, on her first service at the station, continued to stand by the barque following the release of the tug at 1253 and by 1600 the casualty was safely in Liverpool with all crew safe and well.

The whole operation had lasted almost 24 hours and the chief of operations has written to all three stations involved thanking them for their efforts during the long services..