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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Ferry helps out in yacht rescue | Ferry helps out in yacht rescue |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A ferry, with 300 passengers on board, helped rescue a yachtsman drifting in rough seas off the coast of Anglesey. | |
| Irish ferry MV Ulysses, described as resembling a tower block, went to help the 40ft vessel after spotting a red distress flare six miles off Holyhead. | Irish ferry MV Ulysses, described as resembling a tower block, went to help the 40ft vessel after spotting a red distress flare six miles off Holyhead. |
| Three crew members used a ferry rescue boat to reach the stricken yacht. | Three crew members used a ferry rescue boat to reach the stricken yacht. |
| A spokeswoman for Irish Ferries said the crew had used their expertise as best they could, and they were pleased the yachtsman was uninjured. | |
| "The Ulysses was like a tower block in the sea near the yacht," said Holyhead lifeboat spokesman Ray Steadman. | |
| It is something they have trained for, but it is still a pretty skilful manoeuvre Fred Caygill, Maritime and Coastguard Agency | It is something they have trained for, but it is still a pretty skilful manoeuvre Fred Caygill, Maritime and Coastguard Agency |
| "The lifeboat crew said most of the passengers seemed to be watching the rescue, and there was loads of flashing from camera phones." | "The lifeboat crew said most of the passengers seemed to be watching the rescue, and there was loads of flashing from camera phones." |
| The rescue began at around 2330 BST on Monday. | The rescue began at around 2330 BST on Monday. |
| As Holyhead's all-weather lifeboat was launched, an RAF rescue helicopter was also scrambled, although it was later stood down. | As Holyhead's all-weather lifeboat was launched, an RAF rescue helicopter was also scrambled, although it was later stood down. |
| Ulysses managed to get alongside the yacht and launched one of its rescue crafts which got the yachtsman onboard. | Ulysses managed to get alongside the yacht and launched one of its rescue crafts which got the yachtsman onboard. |
| 'Big seas' | 'Big seas' |
| The sailor, named as Thomas Craggs from Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, was unhurt, and was taken back to the ferry. | The sailor, named as Thomas Craggs from Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, was unhurt, and was taken back to the ferry. |
| The Ulysses then acted as a lee (shelter) as the lifeboat reached the scene, and two crew managed to get onto the yacht and secure a line so she could be towed back to port. | The Ulysses then acted as a lee (shelter) as the lifeboat reached the scene, and two crew managed to get onto the yacht and secure a line so she could be towed back to port. |
| "There was a force 7-8 wind with very big seas of 2-3 metres (10ft) waves," Mr Steadman added. | "There was a force 7-8 wind with very big seas of 2-3 metres (10ft) waves," Mr Steadman added. |
| Brian Thomson (left) the coxswain of Holyhead Lifeboat with Mr Craggs | Brian Thomson (left) the coxswain of Holyhead Lifeboat with Mr Craggs |
| "It appears that the boom had come away from the mast and the sails had become tangled with some becoming badly damaged, torn to shred in places. | "It appears that the boom had come away from the mast and the sails had become tangled with some becoming badly damaged, torn to shred in places. |
| "He had tried to get to Holyhead, and was three miles from shore when the engine failed, and then he drifted three miles out to sea, when his radio failed," he said. | "He had tried to get to Holyhead, and was three miles from shore when the engine failed, and then he drifted three miles out to sea, when his radio failed," he said. |
| The yacht was finally towed into Holyhead marina at 0330 BST on Tuesday. | The yacht was finally towed into Holyhead marina at 0330 BST on Tuesday. |
| "The chap was very experienced and wasn't very happy that he had involved so many people in his rescue," said Mr Steadman. | "The chap was very experienced and wasn't very happy that he had involved so many people in his rescue," said Mr Steadman. |
| "But it's what we are there for and it (the rescue) had a great result." | "But it's what we are there for and it (the rescue) had a great result." |
| Fred Caygill from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said ferry captain Mike McKenna had shown "great skill" in using the large vessel to shelter the yacht. | |
| "It is something they have trained for, but it is still a pretty skilful manoeuvre," he said. | "It is something they have trained for, but it is still a pretty skilful manoeuvre," he said. |
| A spokeswoman for Irish Ferries said: "When you are out on the high seas you do what you can to help in a situation like this. | |
| "The captain and the crew used their expertise as best they could, and they were pleased that the gentleman concerned was uninjured," she added. |