#RNLI - Howth RNLI has brought six people to safety on Saturday evening (2 November) after their 37ft yacht got into difficulty north of Dublin Bay.
The volunteer crew was requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat by the Irish Coast Guard shortly after 6pm following a report that a 37ft yacht was unable to safely enter the harbour from one mile east of Howth Harbour.
The lifeboat, under coxswain Robert Duffy and with six crew members onboard, launched in five minutes into gale force winds and made its way to the scene.
Weather conditions were difficult, with winds blowing Force 8 to 9 at the time and gusting to 45 knots.
The lifeboat located the yacht in a calm, sheltered bay off Howth Head. A lifeboat crew member was then transferred to the disabled boat which had encountered a mechanical problem. A tow line was then established and the lifeboat brought the vessel to safety at Howth at 7pm.
Speaking following the call-out, Duffy said: "This was a challenging call-out for our volunteer crew tonight given the gusty weather conditions and the darkness.
"Thankfully we were on scene quickly and using our training, we were able to assist the six crew members on board the yacht and bring them safely to shore."
Elsewhere, Kilrush RNLI brought a yacht which was dragging its mooring off Hogg Island to safety on Saturday morning.
The volunteer crew was requested to launch their inshore lifeboat at 9.40am, and within minutes they had sighted the vessel, which was located a short distance from Cappa Pier.
A crewmember was put aboard the vessel to start the engine and bring it to another secured mooring. In the meantime, the crew put a line on the strayed mooring line and towed it out of the way from the main shipping line.
Winds were extremely strong gusting up to Force 8, and it was decided in the interest of safety that the yacht be brought into Kilrush Creek Marina.
Kilrush RNLI lifeboat operations manager John Lamb praised the crew who he said put their skills and training to good work in what was challenging weather conditions.
"When volunteer crew members put in the time for training, their efforts pay off on call-outs such as this one this morning and thankfully we were able to bring this vessel to safety," he said.
