Two men who embarked on a voyage from Swansea to Ilfracombe in Devon in search of mouthwatering pasties found themselves in a perilous situation when their boat started taking on water.
The incident occurred during their return journey when a powerful wave struck their 32ft cruiser, prompting a swift response from the Ilfracombe RNLI.
The seasoned sailors, driven by the belief that pasties in Devon surpassed those in Swansea, had made this trip numerous times in the past. “You can’t get anything like them in Swansea,” Paul Hadfield, owner of the ship, told the BBC.
“We’d been in Ilfracombe for the day, and I’d got nine pasties for colleagues back home,” he added.
With over 50 years of sailing experience, Hadfield was well-acquainted with the roughly 30-mile journey between his home and Ilfracombe in pursuit of the coveted pasties.
However, this particular outing took a disastrous turn. At Baggy Point, a colossal swell caused mayhem aboard The Gazelle, resulting in a saloon window giving way to the forceful waves.
Before long, the men had water up to their knees. They contacted HM Coastguard, witnessing the sorry sight of the nine pasties already adrift in the water. Responding swiftly, the Ilfracombe RNLI dispatched both of its lifeboats to the scene. Despite valiant attempts to tow the boat, The Gazelle succumbed to its watery fate, sinking beneath the waves but thankfully, both men were safely rescued.
Reflecting on the harrowing experience, Hadfield acknowledged it as a day he would never forget. However, his unwavering determination remains unshaken, and he plans to return to Ilfracombe for more pasties in the near future.
It seems that not even a sinking boat can dampen the sailors passion for tasty Devon pasties.
July 2023.
Anglo&Celtic 