Update on the above story............... This seems a bit heavy..........
An experienced sailor and former mountain rescuer who was flown to hospital after getting crushed between a yacht and a pontoon said it "never would have happened" if the RNLI had towed the vessel into a marina after an engine fire the day before.
Ian Proud was sailing his brother's boat, 'Starfish,' from Conwy Marina to Portavadie on Loch Fyne, Scotland when the engine burst into flames three miles into their journey.
The 54-year-old and his three-strong crew called the coastguard, who asked if they needed a lifeboat or if they could sail the boat onto the Beacons Pontoon - just outside the marina - themselves.
Ian was confident in his abilities to bring the vessel alongside the jetty himself, and members of Llandudno coastguard met them at the site ready to take in their lines.
Mr Proud told North Wales Live: "The coastguard, who were very helpful, contacted the lifeboat and asked if they could move us into the marina as the pontoon is rather exposed and is more suited to commercial vessels than a yacht.
"The lifeboat refused to do so on the basis that we were no longer in peril."
The RNLI - confirmed they would not tow a vessel unless it was deemed to be in danger.
An RNLI spokesperson said: "The RNLI has strict guidelines on the towing of vessels and will tow a vessel if it is deemed to be in danger, as such this did not come under the RNLI’s towing policy.
"As a charity, the RNLI has to ensure that it makes the best possible use of its supporters’ donations.
"In instances such as this, the tow would need to be carried out by a commercial tug."
Full story
https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/sailor-crushed-yacht-accident-says-18708664