RNLI New Quay kept busy by floating ropes

The RNLI has been busy dealing with floating ropes in harbours around New Quay.

In the past two weeks, they have rescued a 10 metre catamaran and two fishing boats.

In one incident, a local fishing boat, pictured, with one person aboard was stranded in late afternoon with a fouled propeller three miles off New Quay Head. The all weather lifeboat towed it back to the harbour in a heavy swell.

A ten metre catamaran on passage to North Wales got into difficulty in the early morning outside Aberaeron harbour and was in danger of drifting on to rocks. Both lifeboats were called and crewman Ceri Knapgate dived into the water to cut the propeller free and allow the catamaran to continue on its journey north.

Floating ropes are a frustration to harbour users, but the RNLI accept them as a fact of life in such an intensely used area of sea.

Roger Couch , Lifeboat Operations Manager, said: "These things are bound to happen. Although it is unusual for several to come together, we in the RNLI regard it as one of our duties to carry out fouling rope rescues and our volunteer crews willingly turn up on these occasions."

PHOTOGRAPH: RNLI