Six Wicklow lifeboat volunteers have been honoured with meritorious awards from the RNLI Chief Executive, Mark Dowie, for their part in the rescue of three fishermen off the Wicklow coast earlier this year as Afloat reported here.

On Wednesday evening (1st November), Area Lifeboat Manager Lisa Hollingum presented the commendations to Coxswain Ciaran Doyle, Peter Byrne (Station Mechanic), Carol Flahive, Paul Sillery and Stephen Kenny. Ian Heffernan was unable to attend due to work commitments.

The call-out occurred on Saturday, 14 January 2023, when Wicklow all-weather lifeboat RNLB Joanna and Henry Williams slipped its moorings at the south quay at 11.30 am, following a Coast Guard launch request to investigate reports of a fishing vessel with engine failure off the Wicklow coast.

At 12:15 pm, the drifting fishing vessel with three crew was located west of the Codling Bank. Weather conditions at the time were sea state rough with a three-metre swell, wind was strong gusting north easterly force 7- 8 at times.

Coxswain Ciaran Doyle conducted an assessment of the vessel, which was found to have engine failure. As the vessel had no propulsion and unable to return to port under its own power and with the deteriorating weather, it was decided the best course of action was to tow the vessel back to Wicklow. A towline was established, and course was set for Wicklow Harbour at 12.45pm.

Speaking after the callout Coxswain Ciaran Doyle said “We located the fishing vessel drifting eighteen miles north-east of Wicklow harbour, conditions at the scene were challenging, but the crew worked well and had no difficulties preparing a towline. The tow home was slow due to the weather, and we had to adjust the towline on a couple of occasions to suit the conditions.”

The fishing vessel was brought alongside the east pier at Wicklow harbour at 5.30 pm and the three fishermen were landed safely ashore.

Speaking after the presentation, Lifeboat Press Officer, Tommy Dover said: “We are extremely proud of our lifeboat volunteers and the commitment they give to the local community. They demonstrated excellent teamwork and skilled boat handling during a challenging six-hour service in poor weather conditions. This recognition by RNLI Chief Executive Mark Dowie is deeply appreciated by Wicklow RNLI.”

The Wicklow RNLI inshore lifeboat rescued two foil surfers who were in distress due to tidal conditions on Saturday afternoon (30 September), according to the Coast Guard's alert. The Inshore lifeboat was launched around 3:40 pm and quickly found the surfers at the entrance of Wicklow Harbour, who were struggling to get back ashore due to the changing tidal conditions. The sea state was slight, and there was a south-westerly wind force of 3/4 at the time. However, the weather was poor, with mist and rain hindering visibility.

The lifeboat crew safely rescued the surfers and their foil boards. One of the surfers had become exhausted while paddling against the falling tide and was thoroughly checked by the crew, but did not require medical attention. The lifeboat crew landed the two surfers safely ashore and returned to the station. It was the first official "Shout" for a trainee crew member, Deirdre Rizo, who performed commendably.

Tommy Dover, Wicklow's Lifeboat Press Officer, praised the trainee crew for their hard work and dedication throughout the past year of training as lifeboat volunteers. Dover also reminded everyone to check their engine and fuel before going offshore, wear a lifejacket or buoyancy aid, and carry a means of calling for help throughout the journey. He advised people to dial 999 and ask for the Coast Guard if they see anyone in difficulty on or near the water.

A team of volunteers from the Wicklow RNLI launched an all-weather lifeboat early on Sunday morning to rescue a sailor who was stranded on a yacht with mechanical and electrical issues.

The yacht, a 36ft sailing vessel, was located approximately half a mile northeast of Wicklow Harbour, and the sailor was in distress. The Coast Guard paged the RNLI crew at 1:48 am, and they immediately sprang into action. At 2:00 am, the RNLB Joanna & Henry Williams set sail in force 6-7 winds blowing from the northwest.

The crew, led by Coxswain Tommy McAuley, quickly assessed the maritime emergency and decided to take the yacht under tow back to the safety of Wicklow Harbour. The yacht was safely secured alongside at approximately 2:45 am, and the RNLI volunteer crew prepared the lifeboat to be of further service.

Coxswain Tommy McAuley expressed his pride in his team after the heroic maritime rescue, stating: “A call out during the hours of darkness always adds an extra challenge, but the crew are very well prepared throughout the year with the training they undertake.”

Both Wicklow RNLI lifeboats were launched on Thursday, 14 September, in response to an aircraft in difficulty.

The Coast Guard had issued a pager alert to investigate reports of an aircraft struggling off the Wicklow coast.

The initial report suggested that a light aircraft had ditched into the sea near the Six-mile point. However, as the lifeboats approached the search area, more information was relayed to them from the Coast Guard. It turned out that the aircraft was a large, unmanned drone being flown in the area and had crashed into the sea.

Despite favourable weather conditions, with calm seas and good visibility, the situation could have been serious. The inshore lifeboat crew located the significantly damaged drone floating a mile off Newcastle Beach. It was subsequently towed ashore and handed over to its owner.

Tommy Dover, the Lifeboat Press Officer, commended the volunteer crew for their rapid response. He also urged anyone in an emergency situation or who spots someone else in trouble to call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.

Wicklow RNLI brought three fishermen to safety on Wednesday morning (6 September) after their vessel developed mechanical problems north-east of Wicklow Harbour.

Under the command of coxswain Alan Goucher, the all-weather lifeboat Joanna and Henry Williams slipped its mooring at 8.55am to reports of a fishing boat with engine failure.

The volunteer lifeboat crew located the casualty vessel 35 minutes after launching in a position some 12 miles northeast of Wicklow Harbour.

Conditions on scene had a mild Force 1 north-eastery wind and moderate calm seas, but visibility was incredibly poor at only 100 metres.

After an assessment of the situation was carried out by the coxswain, it was decided a tow was the best option given the casualty vessel’s engine failure.

The tow was established and a course set for Wicklow Harbour, with the casualty vessel being secured alongside at 11am.

Speaking after the call-out, Goucher said: “The visibility on scene was incredibly poor and it required extensive navigation skills to safely find the casualty and her crew.

“All the volunteer crew’s training for these types of conditions was put to very good use today.

“We would like to remind everyone to have an effective means of communication in case of an emergency. That communication helped us locate the casualty today.”

Just hours after the conclusion of their station’s open day on Sunday (6 August), Wicklow RNLI’s volunteer crew members responded to the first of two call-outs in 24 hours.

Pagers sounded just after 9.30pm on Sunday night and within 10 minutes the all-weather lifeboat Ruth and David Arthur was making best speed to a position just south of Greystones to attend a six-metre fishing vessel with one person on board which was adrift after suffering engine failure.

Arriving on scene 30 minutes after launch, the lifeboat coxswain assessed the situation and decided that the safest option was to tow the vessel to the nearest port.

The fishing vessel’s lone crew was safely landed ashore at Greystones Marina shortly after 10.35pm.

The second call-out came at 5.40pm on Monday (7 August) when a concerned member of the public reported a small inflatable dinghy with four people on board appeared to be struggling to get back to shore due to the turning tide and westerly offshore wind.

The D-class inshore lifeboat was launched within minutes under helm Paul Sillery and it quickly located the the dinghy and its occupants just as they were making it ashore at Travelahawk beach.

Once it was ascertained that no further assistance was required, the lifeboat was stood down by the Irish Coast Guard.

Speaking later, Sillery emphasised the dangers of using inflatables in the sea: “Inflatables can pose significant risks, as they are susceptible to changing tides, offshore winds and currents.

“We would urge everyone to leave the inflatables at home and not bring them into the sea. If you see someone in trouble in the water, please call 112 or 999 and ask for the coastguard.”

The Wicklow RNLI Lifeboat Station opened its doors and lifeboats to the public on the August Bank Holiday Monday for the first time in four years due to Covid-19.

Despite the mixed weather, it turned out to be a hugely successful day.

The station's volunteers had worked hard in the months leading up to the event to ensure that the facilities were ready to welcome the public. The fundraising team provided endless supplies of tea, coffee, and sweet treats, while the volunteer RNLI lifeboat crew provided tours of the lifeboats and answered any questions asked by children and adults alike.

Two Shannon Class lifeboats on display at the Wicklow RNLI Lifeboat Station Open Day

The public was given the opportunity to explore both Shannon class lifeboats, the RNLB Ruth and David Arthur, and RNLB Joanna & Henry Williams, along with the D class Denis Audrey. The volunteer crew were happy to answer any questions, discuss the equipment onboard, and inform the public of the roles they have within the station.

During a simulated rescue in the harbour, the public was shown the capabilities of the lifeboats, including slow speed transfers between the lifeboats, man overboard drills, and the manoeuvrability of the boats.

The RNLI lifeboat demonstration in Wicklow Harbour

The station's mascot, Stormy Stan, also made an appearance, meeting, greeting, and posing for photos with all the children that were down for a look. The crew also took the opportunity to take a crew photo.

In addition to the RNLI lifeboat station's open day, the Gardaí, the Garda Sub Aqua Unit, Civil Defense, and the Coast Guard were also present, demonstrating their equipment and answering questions from the public.

Crowds gathered for the Wicklow Harbour RNLI Lifeboat Open Day

Volunteer lifeboat press officer Connie O’Gara spoke about the event, saying, "We’d like to thank the public for visiting us for the open day. Considering the torrential rain at times, it was great to see so many people come down and have a look around. It takes a lot of time to organize, but it is a nice way for the crew to say thanks for all the support and donations we receive throughout the year."

The open day was a great success, allowing the public to gain insight into the vital work carried out by the RNLI lifeboat station and other emergency services.

Wicklow RNLI Lifeboat Station is set to open its doors to the public on Sunday, August 6th, for its annual Open Day. This much-anticipated event has been absent for the past four years due to Covid-19 restrictions, but the volunteers, supporters, and fundraisers are excited to welcome visitors back once again. From 1 pm to 5 pm, guests can participate in a behind-the-scenes tour of the station and its two lifeboats. The volunteer crewmembers will be available to discuss their specialised training, demonstrate the equipment used on the lifeboats, and answer any questions.

The Open Day will feature demonstrations and displays by the local Emergency Services, showcasing their life-saving equipment. The lifeboat shop will also be open, and visitors will have the opportunity to meet the lifeboat mascot, Stormy Stan. Children can enjoy face painting, magic acts, and fun entertainment provided by Codling Wind Farm. The Wicklow Sailing Club has also kindly provided an area for sensory play activities for younger children.

This event is an excellent opportunity for the whole family to enjoy a day out while supporting the Wicklow lifeboat station.

Arklow RNLI is also holding its Open Day on the same day, making it ideal for lifeboat enthusiasts to visit two RNLI stations in the Garden County of Wicklow.

Tommy Dover, the Wicklow RNLI Press Officer, expressed his gratitude for the community's support, stating that they "do what we do thanks to generous local support. The Open Day is our way of saying thank you."

The Open Day promises to be a great day out for all ages, and the volunteers, supporters, and fundraisers look forward to welcoming visitors to the Wicklow RNLI Lifeboat Station.

Both Wicklow RNLI lifeboats were launched at teatime on Friday evening (14 July) following reports of a dog in the water south of Wicklow harbour.

The alarm was raised by gardaí in Wicklow who were concerned that the dog owners would instinctively try to rescue their pet and risk injury.

At 6.32pm the inshore lifeboat launched and was followed a short time later by the all-weather lifeboat. Both proceeded south to the foot of cliffs at Wicklow Golf Course.

The inshore lifeboat was on scene four minutes after launching in a position 200m south of Travelahawk beach.

In challenging sea conditions, helm Alan Goucher was able to get the lifeboat ashore and locate the dog.

The inshore lifeboat volunteers made repeated attempts to retrieve the dog, but it retreated into caves on the shoreline each time.

Eventually the dog made its own way back up the cliff where it was retrieved by its anxious owners. With the dog back in safe hands, the lifeboat crews were stood down by the coastguard and returned to station.

The call-out was a milestone for trainee Liz Thomas as she went to sea on her first ‘shout’ as an all-weather lifeboat volunteer.

Speaking after the call-out, Wicklow RNLI press officer Tommy Dover said: “We were happy to help and would remind dog owners to ensure to look after their own personal safety and do not get into danger trying to attempt a rescue themselves.

“Always keep your dog on a lead when you’re close to cliff edges or fast -lowing rivers. Don’t go after your dog if they go into the water. If you are worried about your dog, call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard.”

While Wicklow RNLI's volunteer crew were undergoing assessments on Wednesday evening (5 July), they were requested by the Irish Coast Guard to go to the assistance of a 40ft yacht with five people onboard which had lost all power on the Codling Bank.

The all-weather lifeboat Ruth and David Arthur had launched on exercise at 7pm under the command of coxswain Alan Goucher with five crew members and an RNLI assessor trainer onboard.

During the assessment, shortly after 8.30pm the lifeboat was diverted to go to the assistance of the yacht which was losing all power and had three crew who were suffering quite badly from sea sickness.

The assessment was quickly and safely brought to a finish and the crew made their best speed to the casualty near the Codling Bank, some 10 miles to the east of Wicklow Harbour. It was established that the casualty vessel had lost all power, had become unable to use its VHF radio and had no lighting.

Given the loss of power, the seasick crew and closing darkness, the coxswain decided to take the vessel under tow and make way for the nearest safe port at Wicklow Harbour.

Conditions on scene were described as blowing a southwesterly Force 4-5 wind with up to a one-metre swell.

The tow took approximately three hours, with the casualty vessel being safely secured alongside shortly after midnight. The crew of the casualty vessel were brought into the lifeboat station to be looked after while transport was arranged to bring them to their destination.

The incomplete parts of the assessment will now be rescheduled for another date.

Speaking after the call-out, Goucher said: “The crew were incredibly professional. The change in mindset from assessment to rescue happened instantly, allowing for a successful rescue. I look forward to the crew completing their assessments at a future date.”