Spectacular arrival of Barmouth's new lifeboat

The RNLI’s new £2.2 million Shannon class lifeboat, Ella Larsen, arrived on Sunday March 10.

She was met out at sea by Barmouth’s current Mersey Class lifeboat, the Moira Barrie; they were also accompanied down the coast by Criccieth’s B Class Atlantic 85 lifeboat. It was a moving and memorable sight to see the boats surging through the heavy seas as they neared the shore.

The Barmouth coxswain and volunteer crew gave a display of the new boat’s manoeuvrability before beaching and being recovered onto the Shannon launch and recovery vehicle. Both all weather lifeboats were then towed to the beach in front of the boathouse to be presented to the crowd.

Further training for the volunteer crew will continue for a number of weeks until the new boat takes over from the Moira Barrie which has looked after life-saving in Cardigan Bay since her arrival in 1992.

Peter Davies, coxswain of the Ella Larsen said: “The way she has performed in some very large seas on the way here is just fantastic. We are all amazed at her speed and capability and we have every confidence she has the potential to help us save even more lives at sea.”

An RNLI spokesman said: “The passage from Poole included stops at Brixham, Newlyn and Kilmore Quay in Ireland and was a great opportunity for the volunteers to put their training into use and familiarise themselves with the new lifeboat.”

One onlooker who was impressed with the sight of the Ella Larsen arriving in heavy seas, said: “It was striking to see how the boat and her crew easily handled the breaking waves.”