A HELPFUL crew which towed a stricken cruiser to safety needed rescuing by the RNLI after their boat also broke down.

Barmouth RNLI were paged last Sunday afternoon to go to the aid of motor cruiser Equinox with three people on board which had broken down off the coast of Barmouth.

According to an RNLI spokeswoman, it was a fine, sunny afternoon with moderate sea conditions and a north-westerly force 3 wind.

The all-weather lifeboat the Moira Barrie was launched at 6pm and located the 26ft cruiser off Barmouth outer buoy, but was unable initially to establish communication with the vessel.

At this point, Rebecca Jayne, a fishing vessel from Shell Island who were near the broken down cruiser, offered to help pass on any communications.

When Barmouth lifeboat arrived at the scene, Equinox had been taken in tow by a seven-metre rigid inflatable boat (RIB), the Flash Tango, so the ALB continued to escort both vessels into Barmouth harbour.

After the motor cruiser had been put on her mooring, Flash Tango, with two adults and two children aboard, then also broke down.

The volunteer crew of the ALB then attached a rope to the RIB and she was towed to the pontoon alongside the harbour wall.

All occupants of both boats were wearing life jackets.

The ALB then left the harbour at 6.30pm and was re-fuelled and ready for service by 7.45pm.

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