Croeso i Wefan Gorsaf Bad Achub Criccieth               Welcome to the Criccieth Lifeboat Station Website

This home page shows the latest service launches, exercise dates and the latest news from the station.

Site last updated 2 January 2012

Our lifeboat station is located in the small seaside resort of Criccieth and covers the north eastern corner of Cardigan Bay. The station  has been in existence since 1853 and currently operates both an Atlantic 85 lifeboat "DORIS JOAN" which was placed on service at the station on 6th November 2007 and an Arrancia Inshore Rescue Boat "Margaret and Nantw"(A-76) which iarrived on 16th June, 2011. The IRB is primarily used for work in the shallow waters of the Glaslyn and Dwyryd estuaries..

2012 Service Calls - no calls have been answered so far in 2012

2010 Service Calls - 60 calls were answered in 2010

2009 Service Calls - 27 calls were answered in 2009

2008 Service Calls - 20 calls were answered in 2008

2007 Service Calls - 23 calls were answered in 2007

2006 Service Calls- 32 calls were answered in 2006

Latest Service Launches -

28th December 1128 (A85 and IRB)

Photo courtesy of David Medcalf

The IRB proceeded by road to Borth a Gest from where a sailing dinghy had put out and capsized three times in rough conditions. The Atlantic 85 proceeded by sea. The IRB took on board the dinghy's occupants and started towing it towards Borth y Gest. As it reached deeper water a rope fouled the IRB's engine. Both casualties were then transferred to the Atlantic 85 which towed the dinghy and the IRB ashore. A rescue boat had put out from the Porthmadog and Trawsfynydd Sailing Club. In view of the weather conditions the Atlantic 85 escorted it safely ashore.

22nd November 1231 (IRB) The IRB proceeded by road to assist a person in the water close to Briwet Bridge at Penrhyndeudraeth. She was re-called enroute as ambulance personnel had managed to get the man ashore from a ditch in the river. He was airlifted to hospital.

10th October 1805 (IRB) The IRB was launched following reports of two persons trapped by the tide close to the Cob embankment at Porthmadog. They had made land by the time the IRB arrived and although wet up to their chests claimed not to have been in difficulty!

9th October 0113 (A85) 0210 (IRB) - Both boats were launched to search for a young man who had been reported as going into the sea at Black Rock beach. The lengthy search was terminated at 0336 when the police reported that they had found him ashore and taken him into custody. Both boats returned to Criccieth at 0355.

7th October 1828 (A85) 1832 (IRB) - Both boats were launched to search for a kiteboarder thought to be in difficulty off Black Roch beach and the Porthmadog Bar area. A helicopter from RAF Valley and the Pwllheli D class lifeboat (diverted from an exercise) were also involved in the search. The IRB recovered the board part of the kite rig from the surf in a shallow water area and transferrred it to the Atlantic 85 which brought it ashore. The kite boarder had made his way safely ashore.

Exercise Launches -

Thursday nights

There is now an exercise / training meeting every Thursday night with the crew meeting at 1800. The lifeboat will normally launch between 1815 and 1830. There may be some nights where only shore based training will take place in the boathouse.

Sunday morning

An exercise will also take place on the second Sunday in every month with the lifeboat launching between 8.45 and 9.00. 

If you are travelling some distance to see the launch please contact the Lifeboat Operations Manager on 01766 523183 or 07802 940678 to check if the exercise is taking place:

Latest News-

Criccieth Croeso Nadolig (Welcome Christmas) Event

The Arancia, Land Rover and Stormy Stan were present on the Maes at Criccieth during this event. Santa and Stormy Stan headed the parade up the High Street on Saturday 3rd December.

Relief Lifeboat on station

The relief Atlantic 85 lifeboat "MARY LEWIS" arrived in the early hours of 19th August to replace the station Atlantic 85 which has been sent away for repairs. "DORIS JOAN" returned to the station on 20th September.

2011 Open Day

This took place on Sunday, 14th August and was a great success. There was a rescue demonstration involving both lifeboats as well as various stalls in the boathouse.  Stormy Stan was present to delight the crowd and over £800 was raised for the RNLI's funds. Thanks to everyone whjo made the day a big success.

150th Anniversary and Naming of new Inshore Rescue Boat

On Saturday 2nd July the new inshore rescue boat "Margaret and Nantw" was named and dedicated. A 150th Anniversary Vellum was also presented to the station.

Arancia Training 19/20 March 2011

A weekend of intense training including capsize drills were carried out during this weekend.

Meeting of RNLI Trustees 3rd November

At this meeting it was decided that the Arancia IRB which had been on trials at the station since July 2009 would be permanently allocated to complement the Atlantic 85 lifeboat. It was also decided to award the station a Vellum to commemorate 150 years of life saving.

Whitby Historic Lifeboat

   The Whitby Historic Lifeboat "William Riley of Birmingham and Leamington"  visited Porthmadog for the Ffestiniog Railway Mayday event. On Saturday, 8th May she was rowed from Porthmadog to Criccieth and back by members of the lifeboat crew and Porthmadog Rowing Club.

Criccieth lifeboatman Huw Owen was recently awarded a “Pride of Wylfa Award”. Huw is employed at the Wylfa Power Station in Anglesey and was nominated by his workmates for the award which is given to employees who carry out community service in their local community. At a recent ceremony Huw was presented with his award by Nick Gore, Wylfa Site Director and at the same time a cheque for £250 towards the work of the Criccieth Lifeboat Station was presented to Peter Williams, the station’s Lifeboat Operations Manager.

left to right Nick Gore, Huw Owen, Peter Williams

Chief Executive's Award -

Paul Filby the station's Senior Helmsman who joined with his colleagues from the RNLI's Flood Rescue team to move people to safety from the floods in Cumbria in November 2009 has been awarded the RNLI Chief Executive's Award for his efforts there. Over 200 people  were assisted by the RNLI teams. Paul will be appearing on a special BBC "Songs of Praise" programme from Cockermouth on BBC 1 at 5pm on Sunday 21 February 2010.

2009 Open Day

A very successful Open Day took place on Sunday, 9th August, 2009. Although not meant to be a fundraising event over £640 was raised for the RNLI's funds during the day. Many thanks to all who helped on the day.

Arrancia Inshore Rescue Boat arrives on station

The new Arrancia IRB arrived on station on 30th July 2009 and was launched for work up trials in the Porthmadog Estuary on the morning of Saturday, 1st August. It took exactly the same time for the Arrancia to arrive at Borth y Gest having been towed by the station's new landrover as it did for the Atlantic 85 to travel from Criccieth by sea.

Arrancia to be stationed at Criccieth for work in the shallow waters of the Glaslyn and Dwyryd Estuaries

Trials took place with a D class lifeboat, Y class lifeboat and an Arrancia IRB on 13 June to see if the problems encountered with shallow water could be overcome. Initial trials to familiarise the crew with the Arrancia took place on 11 June. As a result of these trials an Arrancia IRB will be placed on extended trials at Criccieth. She will be launched either from the beach at Criccieth or towed by an RNLI land rover for launching in Porthmadog Harbour. She is expected to arrive on 30th July, 2009.