Angle and St Davids RNLI responded to a Mayday distress call after a 41 foot yacht ran aground off the Smalls Lighthouse on Tuesday.

Paged shortly before 5am and launching into first light with limited visibility due to fog, both all-weather lifeboats made best speed to the casualty in calm to moderate sea conditions. Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 924 also attended.

As the charity lifeboats proceeded to the casualty vessel it had become clear that the yacht had got off the rocks and was managing to make way through the water. However, damage to the hull was substantial enough that the yacht’s bilge system couldn’t cope with the water ingress.

St Davids all-weather lifeboat arrived first on scene first, with the casualty vessel now some five miles south south-east of The Smalls lighthouse.

All six people on board were fit and well, using the bilge pump and buckets to stem the flow of water onboard.

Angle all-weather lifeboat arrived on scene shortly after. As the yacht required repairs at Milford Haven, it was decided that Angle lifeboat would put crew aboard with a salvage pump.

With the situation under control, Angle accompanied the yacht back to Milford Haven and St Davids lifeboat returned to station, rehousing at 7:17am.