Newcastle RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat, the Leonard Kent, was requested to launch around 7.20pm on Thursday evening (27 June) after HM Coastguard received a pan-pan message from a yacht some 20 miles south-east of Newcastle in Co Down, Northern Ireland.
The coastguard were unable to re-establish contact with the vessel and requested the lifeboat to attend the yacht and ascertain the state of the four people on board.
Weather conditions at the time of the launch were overcast with fair visibility and a gentle breeze. The Leonard Kent arrived with the yacht at approximately 8.55pm when conditions had deteriorated, with a Force 7 south-easterly and poor visibility with a rough sea state.
As the lifeboat was making its way to the yacht, the Irish Coast Guard’s Dublin-based helicopter Rescue 116 had made contact with the yacht and those on board, and ascertained all was well.
The lifeboat was requested to continue to the 12-metre yacht and on arrival also confirmed all on board were safe and well. The pan-pan call turned out to be a miscommunication.
Speaking after the call-out, Newcastle lifeboat coxswain Gerry McConkey, said: “The volunteer crew were gathering at Newcastle lifeboat station for our usual Thursday evening training when the pager sounded to launch the all-weather lifeboat. This allowed for a quick launch.
“On arrival we were glad to confirm the four people on board were safe and well and the yacht was not in any difficulty. We would ask everyone going to sea to ensure they have a working means of communication to make contact in an emergency.”
