Today, we're asking you to join us on #GivingTuesday and support the Moelfre Boathouse Appeal.

Moelfre lifeboat crew, on Anglesey in Wales, have got a brand new lifeboat. The Tamar class Kiwi is faster, bigger and safer than the crew’s previous lifeboat. Now, Kiwi needs a home, and her crew need facilities to help them launch her faster in an emergency. 

Can you help?

The current boathouse is 102 years old and not big enough for the modern lifeboat, which is kept on a mooring in the bay. Crew facilities are cramped and dated. The crew have to climb a steep ladder to get in. There is no changing room, no shower and no drying area. Despite all this, these volunteers rescued 42 people last year.

We believe our dedicated volunteers deserve a hot shower after a long shout. The new boathouse will have a mechanic’s workshop and a crew training room, to ensure that the crew are ready when they’re needed most. It will be able to accommodate the new Tamar class lifeboat, with a slipway for safer launching.

Your support for the Moelfre Boathouse Appeal this #GivingTuesday will make a real difference – keeping seafarers safe and rescuers ready for years to come.

A lifesaving history

Today also marks the anniversary of a famous Moelfre lifeboat rescue. Forty-eight years ago, the lifeboat Watkin Williams launched to rescue 19 crew members from the Greek freighter Nafsiporos.

The engine of the stricken 1,287 ton ship had failed, causing it to drift dangerously towards the Anglesey coast, buffeted by 100mph hurricane force winds and 35 foot waves.

The Holyhead RNLI lifeboat, St Cybi, was the first to launch and successfully rescued five crew members. Mid-rescue, one of the ship’s lifeboats ripped loose and damaged the Holyhead lifeboat, forcing the crew to withdraw.

After assessing the situation and witnessing the near disaster to the Holyhead lifeboat, Coxswain Dic Evans skilfully manoeuvred the 42 foot Moelfre lifeboat alongside the Nafsiporos. He kept her steady enough for his volunteer crew to pull the remaining survivors onto the lifeboat’s deck. Valiantly, they tried several times to pull all the crew onboard. On the tenth attempt, the lifeboat was swept onto the deck of the Nafsiporos, but was washed off moments later.

The Moelfre RNLI lifeboat was badly damaged and without electrics and lighting, but set course for Holyhead to land the survivors. By the time they arrived ashore, Coxswain Evans, then aged 61, had been at an open wheel exposed to the hurricane conditions for nearly 13 hours without a break.

The determination and gallantry of both crews ensured the rescue was a huge success. Despite the dangerous conditions and near-misses, there were no fatalities and no casualties amongst the 19 survivors.

Support today’s crew

Today, we’re asking for your help in making sure that Moelfre’s volunteers can carry on this fine lifesaving tradition. It’s time for a new boathouse.

So please help us reach our target by donating what you can this #GivingTuesday. 

Thank you.