Skerries RNLI rescued two men and two women on Monday evening (4 September) after their personal watercraft broke down off Portrane beach.

Shortly before 6pm, Dublin Coast Guard tasked the volunteers at Skerries RNLI following receipt of a radio transmission that indicated there may be people in difficulty off Portrane beach.

The radio transmissions had been weak and were over-spoken by other transmissions. However, the watch officers in Dublin Coast Guard accessed their recording system and were able to isolate certain words, including the type of craft and approximate location.

Skerries RNLI’s Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Louis Simson was launched and the crew plotted a course for the approximate position provided.

Arriving on scene, the crew contacted the coastguard and were informed that no further information had been received. They had just begun to search the area when one of the volunteers spotted the casualty a good distance further out to sea.

As they approached the casualty, they discovered that it was a personal watercraft and an inflatable towing ring, with two men and two women on board. All four were taken on board the lifeboat and assessed.

Despite being adrift for almost an hour, they were all well, albeit beginning to feel cold.

It was confirmed that the craft had suffered a mechanical failure having sucked a foreign object into the propulsion system.

The lifeboat helm decided to tow the vessel to the nearest safe harbour at the slipway by Rush Sailing Club to prevent it becoming a hazard to navigation.

All four casualties and the personal watercraft were brought safely ashore, and the lifeboat made its way back to Skerries where it was recovered to the boathouse and made ready for the next service.

Conditions at the time had a Force 1-2 northerly wind with calm seas and good visibility.

Speaking about the call-out, Skerries RNLI volunteer lifeboat press officer Gerry Canning said: “This was one of those call-outs that highlights that no matter how prepared you are, things can and do go wrong at sea.

“All four were wearing good lifejackets and despite drifting quite a long way out, did the right thing in remaining calm, staying with the vessel and raising the alarm on their VHF.

“There was some really great work here by our colleagues in Dublin Coast Guard in recognising that the initial VHF call was unusual and following it up to get vital information. It was also great work by the crew on the lifeboat in finding a very small target in quite a large sea area.”

Four people had to be rescued by the Bundoran RNLI over the weekend after getting caught in rip currents off Main Beach. In two separate incidents, three teenagers and a man were plucked from the water and brought to safety by the volunteer crew. 

The RNLI were alerted to the first incident, involving the three teenagers, when members of the public raised the alarm. The Irish Coast Guard helicopter, Rescue 118 from Sligo, the Gardai and the National Ambulance Service were also tasked. The crew managed to guide the teenagers to nearby rocks and they were later checked over by ambulance paramedics and found to be safe and well. 

As the volunteers were returning to shore, they received a call from the Malin Head Coast Guard alerting them to a second incident. A man had got caught in a rip current off Main Beach and was struggling in the conditions. The crew immediately diverted to the scene and managed to rescue the man from the water. He was given casualty care on the lifeboat and back on the pier until the arrival of an ambulance. The casualty was then transferred to hospital for further treatment.

“This was a challenging service for our crew today responding to back-to-back calls that resulted in a life saved and the rescue of three others,” said Daimon Fergus, Bundoran RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager. “While we are enjoying some beautiful late summer sunshine, we are also experiencing some strong waves at sea. With the warm weather forecast for much of this week, we want to remind everyone to stay safe while visiting the coast and to be aware of the dangers. Main Beach is notorious for rip currents so we would urge people to be mindful of that.”

Fergus also offered advice on what to do if caught in a rip current, stating, “If you do find yourself in a rip current, do not swim against it or you will get exhausted. If you can, stand up and wade, or swim parallel to the shore until you are free of the rip, then head to shore. If you can, raise your hand and call for help – and remember, to Float to Live if you can’t make it back or become too tired. To do this, tilt your head back with ears submerged and try to relax and control your breathing. Use your hands to help you stay afloat and call for help or swim to safety if you can.”

Two kayakers were rescued by the Wicklow RNLI Inshore lifeboat volunteers on Sunday afternoon, 3rd September, after they got into trouble near Wicklow Head. The Inshore lifeboat was launched shortly after 4 pm after a member of the public walking at Wicklow Head made a 999 call to the Coast Guard reporting that kayakers were struggling to get ashore.

Alan Goucher, the Wicklow RNLI Helm, said they located two men on an inflatable kayak about half a mile southeast of Wicklow Head. The kayakers were trying to paddle against the tide but realised they were fighting a losing battle as the ebb tide was pushing them further south.

Fortunately, the kayakers did not require any medical attention and were safely landed ashore at the Glen Strand. Speaking after the call out, Wicklow RNLI Press Officer, Tommy Dover, stated that the good weather over the weekend had seen a big increase in leisure craft activity along the coast. However, inflatables can pose significant risks, as they are susceptible to changing tides, offshore winds, and currents. Therefore, he urged everyone to leave the inflatables at home and not bring them into the sea.

It is critical to remember that if you see someone in trouble in the water, call 112 or 999 and ask for the Coast Guard.

An historic West Cork lifeboat station is set to officially name a new Shannon class lifeboat 'Val Adnams' during a ceremony at 1:45 pm on Saturday, September 9. The guest of honour on the day will be Val Adnams herself, who is travelling all the way from America for the event. Val is the main donor for the new Shannon lifeboat, which will be named in her honour. The Courtmacsherry RNLI is home to the new lifeboat and is one of the oldest stations in the Institution. 

Val Adnams is a lifelong supporter of the RNLI and an avid sailor and sportsperson. She grew up in Preston and Weymouth and developed a deep respect and admiration for the RNLI as she witnessed the callouts of the local Weymouth Lifeboat, which went to the help of others in distress at sea. Val moved to Washington DC when she was 23 and worked on Capitol Hill for some years before meeting her partner Ed and settling in Idaho. 

Val will be accompanied by members of her family for this special occasion. The lifeboat was also partly funded by generous legacies from Mrs. Sylvia Anne Walker and Mrs Petrina Johnson. A plaque recording these bequests has already been mounted inside the lifeboat.

The Shannon class lifeboat is named after an Irish river in recognition of the service of the Irish lifeboat crews down through the years. This is the first RNLI lifeboat to be named after an Irish river. The arrival of the new lifeboat marks the beginning of a new chapter, as it is the eleventh lifeboat to be stationed in Courtmacsherry since the arrival of “The Plenty” in 1825. The lifeboat is jet-driven, which provides it with increased manoeuvrability.

Brian O'Dwyer, Courtmacsherry RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, expressed his excitement ahead of the lifeboat naming ceremony. He said, "We are looking forward to welcoming Val and her family to this beautiful part of the world and to the start of a lifelong friendship. We would also like to acknowledge the generous legacies of Mrs. Sylvia Anne Walker and Mrs. Petrina Johnson, who contributed to the funding of our new lifeboat. We, and the lifeboat volunteers who follow, will be the proud custodians of this Shannon class lifeboat. This lifeboat will save many lives in the years ahead and bring our crews safely home."

A boat with one person on board fishing off Ballycotton Island got into difficulty on Saturday (26 August) when the vessel suffered engine failure and was in danger of running aground on the rocks.

At approximately 2.20pm the skipper of the seven-metre pleasure boat raised the alarm. He had dropped anchor and was trying to fix the engine issue himself. However, due to strong currents the boat was at risk of being pushing onto rocks on the island’s shore.

Ballycotton RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat launched promptly amid good visibility but choppy seas and a north-westerly Force 3-4 wind.

Once on scene, the lifeboat coxswain decided that the safest option was to tow the boat back to the nearest safe and suitable port.

With the towline secured, the crew of the lifeboat were able to return the boat safely to Ballycotton Pier by 3.10pm.

Commenting on the call-out, coxswain Eolan Walsh said: “Thanks to the speedy response of the volunteers, we were able to prevent the situation from deteriorating further. The person was wearing a lifejacket and had called for help as soon as they encountered difficulties.

“We would advise people to take the correct water safety advice for the activity they are taking part in and to always make sure they have a means of raising the alarm if things go wrong.”

Saturday’s call came four days after the Ballycotton lifeboat rescued five people from a rudderless yacht in challenging conditions off the East Cork coast.

Four sailors were rescued by the Helvick Head RNLI on Friday afternoon after they experienced difficulties near Ballinacourty Lighthouse, southeast of Dungarvan.

A member of the public reported the incident to the Irish Coast Guard, who then requested the volunteer crew to launch their inshore lifeboat. The lifeboat, helmed by Joe Foley and with crew members Pat Devereux, Rian Kelly, and Michael Moore onboard, braved westerly Force 2-3 winds and mild seas to reach the scene at 2.30 pm.

Upon arrival, the crew assessed the situation and found the two male and two female casualties to be safe and well, all wearing their personal protective equipment (PPE). However, the 5-metre rigid inflatable boat (RIB) had suffered mechanical failure, prompting the decision to tow it to the nearest safe port. A tow line was established, and the boats safely returned to Helvick Head pier at 3.10 pm.

Nick Hannigan, Helvick Head RNLI Launching Authority, reminded everyone to always be prepared before heading out to sea. "Wear a lifejacket and be sure to carry a means of communication. Should you get into trouble or see someone else in difficulty, don’t hesitate and dial 999 or 112 asking for the Coast Guard," he said.

The volunteer crew of Clifden RNLI were called out on Friday morning (25 August) at 7.30am to assist a stranded yacht off Connemara.

The vessel with two sailors on board had come into difficulty to the south-west of Inishark, which is west of Inisbofin.

Both of Clifden’s lifeboats launched: the inshore Atlantic 85 helmed by Daniel Whelan with Shane Conneely and Chris Nee as crew; and the all-weather Shannon class St Christopher with John Mullen as coxswain, James Mullen, Joe Acton, Neil Gallery and Alan Kearney as crew.

They were assisted from the shore by Tom Guy, John Heffernan and Sean Mercer.

Sea conditions at the time were moderate, with Force 5 winds and good visibility.

On arriving at the scene, the crews found the sailors to be well and in good spirits however the propeller and rudder on their yacht had become badly entangled with ropes.

The lifeboat volunteers set about establishing a tow line and brought the casualty vessel and the passengers back to safety at Cleggan Harbour.

Speaking after the rescue, Mullen said: “The sailors today did the right thing in calling for assistance when they ran into difficulty and I am delighted we were able help. Our volunteer crew did a great job of ensuring a speedy, safe and successful operation this morning.

“I’d like to thank the two sailors who kindly offered to buy breakfast for the crew after we reached the shore. The breakfast was most welcome after an early start saving lives at sea.”

Newcastle RNLI’s inshore lifeboat, Eliza, and all-weather lifeboat, Leonard Kent, launched on Thursday, (24 August 2023) to assist a man who took ill on Murlough beach.

At approximately 1.40 pm, Belfast Coastguard requested assistance from Newcastle RNLI. The RNLI’s lifeguards and Coastguard teams from Newcastle and Kilkeel were already with the man providing medical assistance.

At 1.49 pm, under the helm of Lochlainn Leneghan and with crew members Trez Dennison and Ciaran Leneghan, the inshore lifeboat launched and made its way towards the beach.

The decision was made to launch the all-weather lifeboat and at 1.54 pm under the command of Coxswain Gerry McConkey, the Leonard Kent launched and travelled towards Murlough to assist. Onboard were mechanic Shane Rice, navigator Niall McMurray and crew members Andrew Lynas, Michael McDowell and Brendan Rooney.

The weather and sea conditions were fine, allowing for a short passage to the scene, with both lifeboats arriving within minutes.

The inshore lifeboat arrived first and the crew assisted RNLI lifeguards and Coastguard to stabilise the casualty. It was decided the safest way to transport the casualty was to take him onboard the inshore lifeboat and then transfer him onto the all-weather lifeboat, which was approximately 200m offshore. The casualty was then conveyed back to Newcastle lifeboat station.

At the station, the man continued to receive first aid until he was transferred in the care of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service on arrival.

Speaking following the call out, Daniel Curran, Newcastle RNLI Deputy Launching Authority, said: ‘We would like to extend our best wishes to the casualty we looked after today for a speedy recovery and thank our RNLI lifeguards and our colleagues from the Coastguard and ambulance service for what was a great multi-agency response and effort.

‘Our volunteer crew are always ready and trained for all types of callouts. And train regularly using various training scenarios where both lifeboats work together. Today was a successful operation between our volunteer crew, both those at sea and onshore, our lifeguards who work on Murlough beach and the Coastguard teams.’

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, stories from Ireland will feature in the RNLI’s new 200 Voices podcast series, which explores captivating tales from the history of the charity that saves lives at sea through to the modern day.

The first episode to feature from Ireland, this Saturday (26 August), is “Niamh Fitzpatrick Remembers One of Our Own” — a personal reflection on how after losing her sister Dara at sea in the Rescue 116 tragedy, Niamh talks about how much the RNLI means to her.

Then on Sunday (27 August) the podcast features Fr Tom Dalton, a Courtown RNLI lifeboat crew member, where the Co Wexford priest describes what is like when rescue turns into recovery in “Pulling Together”.

An event that was to change yacht racing forever, the 1979 Fastnet tragedy is the focus for “The Calm Before Force 10” on Wednesday 30 August, where Baltimore RNLI’s Kieran Cotter remembers the fateful call-out and the response to the disaster.

Later in the autumn, the series will also hear from celebrity ambassadors including musician Phil Coulter on his writing of the RNLI anthem “Home from the Sea” and former President Mary McAleese on the cross-border role of the RNLI.

Available across all podcast platforms and on the RNLI’s website, listeners can hear from survivors, supporters, volunteers, lifeguards, celebrity ambassadors, historians and many more from across Wales, England, Scotland, Ireland and beyond.

Five people were rescued from a 44ft yacht that lost its rudder while on passage from the Scilly Isles to Dungarvan on Tuesday (August 22nd).

The yacht was left powerless to steer its course and was located 10 miles south of Mine Head.

The Ballycotton RNLI all-weather Trent class lifeboat, The Austin Lidbury, and a volunteer crew were immediately dispatched following a request for assistance from the French yacht's crew. The RNLI continues to provide an on-call 24/7 search and rescue lifeboat service.

The crew arrived on the scene at 9:15 am and established that all five crew members on board the yacht were unharmed and wearing a flotation device. Due to the location of the vessel and the weather conditions, the decision was made to tow the rudderless yacht back to Ballycotton harbour. The process was slow and difficult due to a southwest gale of force 4 with a moderate swell. The yacht was safely berthed in Ballycotton pier by 1:15 pm.

Commenting on the callout, Ballycotton Deputy Coxswain Barry McDonald said, "I would especially like to thank all the crew who responded to the pager as handling a rudderless yacht is challenging, and also to the ground crew who assisted when we arrived back in the harbour." The volunteer lifeboat crew comprised of Deputy Coxswain Barry McDonald, Mechanic Adam Hussey, Navigator David Casey, and volunteers Eolan Breathnach, Cíaran Walsh, Kate Flemming, and Stephen Sloane.

David Casey was also congratulated on his first call-out as a newly qualified navigator.

The RNLI advises people to adhere to relevant water safety guidance for any water activity to ensure their safety.