VOLUNTEER crew launched the Barry Dock RNLI lifeboat to come to the aid of a sinking yacht, with two people and four dogs on board, three miles west of Clevedon.

The all-weather lifeboat Inner wheel II launched at 10.45pm on Monday, October 14.

Upon arrival on scene Portishead and Weston RNLI lifeboats had already set up a salvage pump and were pumping water out of the yacht.

The yacht was taken in tow to be taken into Cardiff Bay.

Penarth RNLI lifeboat was paged to assist in taking the yacht through the barrage.

On arrival the tidal conditions made it impractical to take the yacht into Cardiff so a decision was made to tow the boat to Barry.

Barry Dock lifeboat coxswain, Martin Bowmer said: "It’s important for people going to sea to be aware of weather and tidal conditions before going to sea and to have adequate form of communication."

The yacht was towed to Barry harbour and placed on a Barry yacht club mooring.

The crew made sure the two casualties and four dogs were ok and prepared the RNLI lifeboat for its next service.

They were finally stood down at 3.30am.

This was a multi RNLI incident involving 4 separate lifeboat stations and their volunteer crew from RNLI Portishead, Penarth Lifeboat Station, and RNLI Weston Lifeboat Station.