As part of an effort to find the source of a Mayday call off Cork Harbour today, owners of boats named ‘Bluebird’ around Ireland have been contacted by the Coastguard.

No yacht has been found after a major six-hour search effort off Cork Harbour and the Cork coast this morning.

The search and rescue operation got underway at 9.25am when the Valentia Coast Guard was called with a report of a yacht in trouble.

Contact was received over VHF radio that a 32–foot yacht called ‘Bluebird’ was experiencing engine trouble and sinking around one mile south of Roche’s Point.

The Coast Guard sent out three boats inlcuding local RNLI Lifeboats and two rescue helicopters, accompanied by naval boats and a number of local vessels. The search continued for six hours, concluding at around 3pm.

An area stretching from Waterford down to Galley Head in Cork was searched, with a 6 km square area near to where the yacht was believed to be covered.

Investigations are underway to discover the source of the distress call.

It has been suggested by someone involved in the search operation that it may have been a hoax call, although a spokesperson for Valentia Coast Guard has said that there is nothing to confirm this.

A hoax call to the service over VHF radio would be considered unusual.

The UK’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency has been involved in the effort, and is checking with ‘Bluebird’ boat owners in the United Kingdom.

No further search is taking place at this time, although a warning has gone out to boats in the area to alert the Coast Guard if they spot anything in the area.

#RNLI - Union Hall RNLI was paged at 6.31am this morning (Thursday 15 October) to reports of a flashing strobe light south of Rabbit Island at the entrance to Glandore Harbour.

Union Hall’s inshore lifeboat Maritime Nation launched at 06.39 am to investigate after two reported sightings of a flashing light in the water, one from a member of the public and another from a member of Glandore/Toe Head Coast Guard.

On inspecting the scene, the flashing light was spotted, and turned out to be an EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon).

The volunteer crew then commenced a search of the water surrounding the area. They found nothing else and returned to the lifeboat station with the EPIRB.

"You can never be too careful even at this time of year," said Jim Moloney, Union Hall RNLI deputy launch authority. "The member of the public was correct to report this sighting and no time was wasted in getting a search of the area."

HRH The Duke of Kent officially opened the RNLI’s first permanent inland lifeboat station at Carrybridge this afternoon. 

The lifeboat station has been fully operational on Upper Lough Erne in County Fermanagh since March this year.

Officially declaring the lifeboat station open following a Service of Dedication, HRH The Duke of Kent paid tribute to the 40 volunteers at Enniskillen RNLI. He said it was always a pleasure to talk with those who give up their time to support lifesaving rescues and to those who carry them out.

‘They do it because they are courageous, selfless, trustworthy and reliable – they embody the values of the RNLI,’ he said. ‘They give freely and expect little in return.
Their actions serve as a heart-warming reminder that, today, there are people of all ages and backgrounds that are willing to make personal sacrifices in the name of saving lives. So I would like to thank all of the volunteers here, and their supportive families, for everything they do to support the RNLI’s lifesaving mission.’

The opening of the new boathouse comes 13 years after the station was first established on Upper Lough Erne. During those years the volunteer lifeboat crew was housed in temporary accommodation.

Tom Bailey, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Carrybridge said he was proud and pleased to accept the lifeboat station on behalf of the crew and station personnel:

‘In 2001, Enniskillen became home to the RNLI’s first inland lifeboat station based on Lower Lough Erne. Due to the overall size and complexity of the lough and its high leisure usage, the decision was taken by the RNLI in 2002 to base a second lifeboat on the Upper Lough here at Carrybridge that would work in conjunction with the original lifeboat station on the Lower Lough at Killadeas. With two bases, two inshore lifeboats and two rescue water craft, the station has since proved to be one of the busiest in Ireland. Last year alone, Enniskillen RNLI launched 59 times bringing 57 people to safety. Some 32 of those services were carried out in the dark while the crew spent 262 service hours on the water.’

When the RNLI was actively seeking a location for a new lifeboat station at Carrybridge, the late George Johnston kindly donated a site on his farmland which fronted the River Erne. He was remembered in the ceremony by Archie Birrell, chair of the Lough Erne Fundraising Branch: ‘None of this would have been possible without the generous donation of the very land that this station stands on, and for this we are incredibly thankful to the late George Johnston whose generosity has made all of this possible.’

The donation was gratefully accepted by the RNLI which then proceeded with the assistance of Mr Johnston’s children George and Anna who attended the opening ceremony, to obtain full planning permission to build the new station.

The build which took little over a year to complete was carried out by Omagh based Woodvale Construction and handed over to the RNLI on the 25 March.
In order to facilitate the project, the local community helped the charity raise £60,000 towards the cost.

The building is constructed with rendered blockwork walls, a zinc roof and Iroko timber main doors. It has been designed to complement the local architectural vernacular, with precedence being taken from the rural and agricultural structures which typify this area of County Fermanagh.

While traditional in appearance, the building includes some of the latest environmentally friendly technologies, including a ground source heat pump to provide low-carbon heat to the building as well as solar photo-voltaic panels which generate a portion of the building’s electrical demand. The lifeboat station is the RNLI’s first specially built inland waterways buildings and is something of a trailblazer in certain areas including background heating within the boathall itself to prevent vital fluids on the lifeboat freezing during cold winter periods.

The modern lifeboat station is located close to the lough to allow for an efficient launch of the inshore lifeboat and rescue water craft. It also houses the associated launching tractor and equipment, full crew changing facilities, a workshop, office and training room.

The Very Reverend Kenneth Hall, Dean of St Macartin’s Cathedral, Reverend TH Samuel McGuffin, Lakelands District Superintendent, Methodist Church in Ireland and The Right Reverend Monsignor Peter O’Reilly, St Michael’s Church, Enniskillen, led the Service of Dedication.

Among the platform party were Anna and George Johnston who handed over the boathouse into the care of the RNLI, David Delamer, Chairman of the RNLI Council for Ireland who accepted the lifeboat station on behalf of the RNLI, Tom Bailey, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Carrybridge who accepted the new building on behalf of Enniskillen RNLI and HRH The Duke of Kent who officially opened the lifeboat station. The platform party also included Sam McCreery, President of Enniskillen RNLI who opened proceedings, Archie Birrell, Chairman of the Lough Erne Fundraising Group, and Darren Byers, RNLI Divisional Operations Manager for Northern Ireland.

#RNLI - The volunteer crew of Kinsale RNLI launched at 1.20pm on Sunday last (4 October) to assist a swimmer who got into difficulties in the water around Sandycove Island.

Valentia Coast Guard requested the crew to launch their inshore lifeboat after walkers reported a person in difficulty in rough seas. He was quickly brought to safety, assisted by another swimmer and members of the public.

The swimmer said he had been alone but two pairs of shoes were found on the slipway, leading to fears that a second person may be in the water.

Gardaí, the Old Head Coast Guard shore unit and Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 115 joined the search but no further casualties were found.

Speaking following the callout, Kinsale RNLI lifeboat operations manager John O'Gorman said: "Thankfully this swimmer was helped ashore and made a full recovery but we would urge everyone to pay particular attention to the RNLI's Respect the Water campaign.

"Irish waters are dangerously unpredictable, especially at this time of year. There are over 200 coastal drownings every year. The RNLI aims to halve that number by 2024 and the RNLI’s Respect the Water campaign will play a key role in achieving this.

"We still want you to enjoy the water, but we also want you to respect the water, acknowledge its dangers and never underestimate its power."

The RNLI urges anyone going on or in the water to let someone know where they are and when they will be back, and to carry a form of communication if at all possible.

If you do see someone in trouble, please do not enter the water to assist unless you are a trained lifesaver. Always dial 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard.

It is a point which I feel compelled to make, time and again, because it is people who make up a community of interest, by their determination, their commitment, their focus and that is what I believe the marine community to be and so, consider it to be THE FAMILY OF THE SEA, a common interest which those of us who value the sea, the lakes and the rivers of Ireland share. Long may there be such people.
I am fortunate enough to come across them, to hear their stories and to be able, through this medium, to bring them to the attention of others. This week on the programme, a 22-year-old is the focus. There are people who decide to do amazing things, for no motivation other than that they want to achieve something and to help a particular project. Twenty-two-year-old Alex Ellis-Roswell is one such person. He comes from Margate in Kent in England from where he started walking around the coast of Britain and Ireland in August of last year, planning to take two years to complete his self-imposed task and raise money for the RNLI lifeboat service as he walked.
”The slower you travel, the more you see…” is his attitude … But can you imagine getting into a sleeping back somewhere at six o’clock on a Winter’s evening to spend the night outdoors? That was one of the things he describes on the programme as he outlines how he chose the pathways for his journey. But he also records the most horrible sight which he has seen and this is something to which I have referred before – human abuse of our beaches, our foreshore areas.
Alex has had to take a rest from his walk for a while, to recover from damage to his knees during his expedition, but he plans to resume shortly. He is a fascinating, determined young man on a mission, who set himself a target of raising stg£10,000, which he is set to exceed, such has been the level of popular support he has been receiving.
For more information about his journey go here

WI-FI ON DUBLIN BAY
Also on the programme you can hear about the introduction of Wi-Fi on Dublin Bay and the Dublin Bay Digital Diamond, which Deirdre Lane, Navigation Policy Officer with the Commissioners of Irish Lights, describes. Click the link at the top of this story to listen in.

SOMETHING UNUSUAL

There is always something unusual to be found in the sea and we come across such stories and incidents regularly when compiling THIS ISLAND NATION. This week we report that Live Science website has issued pictures of a rare and endangered sea turtle which was found near the Solomon Islands.

It was spotted underwater by divers at night time, glowing bright red and green and they filmed it – identifying it as a hawksbill sea turtle. "It was a short encounter," said David Gruber, an Associate Professor of Biology at Baruch College in New York City and a National Geographic explorer. “It bumped into us and I stayed with it for a few minutes. It was really calm and let me film it. Then it dived down the side of a cliff face wall."

GOING FOR A PINT IN A BATHTUB
There is a lot of tide in the Shannon Estuary, which can make it a dangerous place in certain conditions, so it is hard to imagine that anyone would try to use what seemed liked nothing bigger than a bathtub to set out on the river to go for a few pints. Not surprisingly those involved got into trouble and Kilrush Lifeboat was called to their rescue. This story is told on the programme by Pauline Dunleavy of the West Clare lifeboat station.
• With the latest angling news from Myles Kelly of Fisheries Ireland and other stories there is, as always, a lot worth listening to on THIS ISLAND NATION. Click the link at the top of this story to listen in.

Tom MacSweeney

#RNLI - Volunteers from Lough Ree RNLI were called to assist two people last Wednesday afternoon (30 September) after their motor cruiser ran aground on a shoal near Green Island on Lough Ree.

The crew was requested to launch their inshore lifeboat The Eric Rowse at 12.30pm following a report that the 42ft cruiser was aground west of Killinure Point.

Launching to the scene within minutes, the lifeboat crew found that no one was in any immediate danger and there was no damage to the boat.

Weather conditions at the time were described as bright with a Force 2 south-easterly gentle breeze and calm waters.

The crew set up a towline and moved the vessel into safe waters. Under their own power, the couple then proceeded towards Athlone.

Speaking following the rescue, lifeboat helm Tom Bradbury said: "There are a lot of shallow areas and rocky shoals on Lough Ree which can catch even the most experienced of sailors out.

"We would always encourage people taking to the lake to locate the next navigation marker every time you pass one as good practice and if you get into difficulty to request help as this couple sensibly did on this occasion."

Later that same afternoon, Ballycotton RNLI was launched to a kitesurfer who got into difficulty near Ballycotton Lighthouse.

The all-weather lifeboat and its volunteer crew was launched at 2.44pm in choppy seas with swells of up to two metres following a call from a nearby observer who spotted the kitesurfer in difficulty.

The kitesurfer was blown onto nearby rocks where they waited for assistance from the Ballycotton RNLI.

Speaking following the callout, coxswain Eolan Walsh said: "The kite surfer was lucky that a nearby observer spotted them in difficulty. We would always encourage anyone going on the water to carry a means of communication in case of emergency."

Four volunteer crew members at Dun Laoghaire RNLI have been recognised this week for their commitment to the charity that saves lives at sea.

Kieran O’Connell, Eamon O’Leary, Stuart Kane and David Branigan have collectively provided 120 years’ service to the RNLI. The four who continue to volunteer their time as crew, were presented with a Bar to Long Service badge in Dun Laoghaire last night.

Kieran O’Connell who is also station mechanic, started as a volunteer crew member at Youghal RNLI in County Cork in 1983 where he served both on the all-weather and Atlantic 75 inshore lifeboats. He became station mechanic in 1995 and later accepted the same full-time position in Dun Laoghaire in 1998 moving with his wife Mary and their two daughters. When not on call, Colley is a keen drummer and also has an active interest in his former occupation as a fisherman.

Eamon O’Leary was one of the first volunteer recruits at Dun Laoghaire RNLI when the original D class inshore lifeboat was placed on station in August 1985 on a trial basis before becoming fully operational on St Patrick’s Day 1986. He later became a crew member on the Waveney class all-weather lifeboat, the John F Kennedy and more recently was appointed Second Coxswain on the current all-weather lifeboat the Anna Livia. A fire officer by occupation at Dublin Airport, Eamon who is married to Mary, received a ‘Person of the Year’ award in 1990 for a rescue on Killiney Bay.

Stuart Kane was another of the 1985 recruits who served both on the inshore and all-weather lifeboats before the arrival of the Trent class all-weather lifeboat in 1995. He was a senior helm on the inshore lifeboat for several years before becoming second mechanic and more recently Deputy Second Coxswain on the all-weather lifeboat. Stuart is married to Sharon, a former crew member who joined Dun Laoghaire RNLI in 1985 also. Their son Craig is now a crew member, continuing three generations of lifeboat tradition in their family.

David Branigan is the last of the 1985 recruits who joined in August that year. David initially served on the inshore lifeboat including a period as a senior helm and later joining the all-weather lifeboat when the Anna Livia arrived in 1995. Like all RNLI volunteers, David attended the RNLI College in Poole and was appointed Deputy Second Coxswain on the all-weather lifeboat. A professional photographer and journalist, he is also the station’s lifeboat press officer. Married to Jennifer, they are expecting their first child next month.

Since 1985, lifeboats at Dun Laoghaire RNLI have launched 1,360 times with crews saving 157 lives and rescuing 1,151 more.

Speaking after presenting the four long service badges, Owen Medland, RNLI Divisional Operations Manager, said: ‘Most lifeboat crew members are volunteers who come from all walks of life and give up their time and comfort to save lives at sea. David, Stuart, Eamon and Collie respond at a moment’s notice when their pagers go off. They are regularly called away from their families, their beds and their work, any time of the day, any day in the year. In addition, over the last 30 years, they each have invested several hours to train and upskill. Their lifesaving work is essential, often difficult and sometimes dangerous but they each do it selflessly, with courage, bravery and dedication, and on behalf of the RNLI, I would like to thank them for that.’

#RNLI - Valentia's lifeboat station received a €10,000 donation from Star Wars producers during their recent film shoot on Skellig Michael.

As The Irish Times reports, the RNLI station's operations manager Richard Foran confirmed to a local paper that the lump sum came as "a complete surprise. But I think the lifeboat came to their minds because of what they were doing."

The good news comes after some controversy earlier this week over confirmed 'repairs' on Skellig Michael after the week-long film shoot on the sensitive Unesco World Heritage site.

Filming was delayed at the start of the shoot a fortnight ago due to high winds and rough seas common around the weather-worn island.

#RNLI - RNLI volunteers aboard Donaghadee’s all-weather lifeboat Saxon launched on Tuesday night (29 September) to search for a family’s pet dog which was reported to have been cut off by the tide at Millisle on the Ards Peninsula.

Coxswain Philip McNamara and his crew took the decision to launch after a request from Belfast Coastguard at 9.30pm and were on the water within 10 minutes.

When they reached the area, the crew launched a smaller inflatable craft, designed for inshore work, and conducted a search of the shoreline in darkness.

"We could find no trace of the dog and hope that it reached safety," said McNamara. "There is always the possibility that someone will enter the water to save a family pet and that means there is a risk of them drowning. The RNLI is here to save lives at sea no matter what the circumstances might be."

The launch came just a day after the Donaghadee crew spent eight hours afloat as part of a major search operation for a missing kayaker, as previously reported on Afloat.ie.

Elsewhere, Skerries RNLI towed a fishing boat with four men on board to safety on Sunday (27 September) after a passing yacht alerted the lifeboat that the vessel was in difficulty.

While out on routine Sunday morning training some two miles northeast of Skerries, helm Eoin Grimes and crew members Peter Kennedy and AJ Hughes were called into action after learning from the skipper of a passing yacht that a fishing boat nearby had suffered engine failure.

The fishing vessel, which had four men on board, was taken under tow by the lifeboat and towed to the safety of Balbriggan Harbour, where they had set out from. Conditions at the time were calm with a Force 1 to 2 southerly wind.

Speaking after the callout, Skerries RNLI volunteer lifeboat press officer Gerry Canning said: "We would urge anyone going to sea to ensure that have adequate safety equipment on board and a means of contacting the shore should they experience any difficulty."

#RNLI - Enniskillen RNLI rescued two people on Sunday evening (27 September) after a kayak was reported to have capsized at the mouth of the Colebrook River.

The volunteer lifeboat crew based on Upper Lough Erne at Carrybridge were requested by Belfast Coastguard to launch both their inshore lifeboat and rescue water craft (RWC) at 5.52pm.

The man and woman who came off the kayak had managed to swim ashore, raise the alarm using their mobile phone and let the coastguard know they were on an island.

The inshore lifeboat, helmed by Chris Cathcart, launched immediately along with the RWC. Weather conditions at the time were described as good with light airs and good visibility.

Following a search, the lifeboat crew located the casualties on the northern side of Inishcorkish Island. They were both cold and the woman was shaking and showing signs of hypothermia.

The crew immediately transferred both people to the lifeboat and began to administer casualty care. They were then brought to the shore at Knockninny Marina where they were medically assessed and made comfortable. The RWC then recovered the vessel back to Knockninny Marina.

Speaking following the callout, Enniskillen RNLI helm Chris Cathcart said: "The water was cold yesterday and the casualties had been in the lough for about 15 minutes during their swim to the island.

"They had prepared for their trip by carrying a means of communication and thankfully they were able to raise the alarm using their mobile phone. We wish them both a speedy recovery from their ordeal."

As reported on Afloat.ie earlier today, HM Coastguard is co-ordinating an ongoing search for an overdue sea kayaker off Portmuck in Co Antrim, concentrating on the area around the Gobbins coastal path.