Howth RNLI’s All-Weather Lifeboat (ALB) was launched on Saturday (31 May) to assist several yachts in difficulty during the annual Lambay Race, following multiple distress calls in challenging conditions off the coast of Lambay Island.
The crew were paged at 13:21 after reports of a collision involving a Howth 17 sailing boat, which had sustained damage to its rigging and was left disabled. The lifeboat launched within ten minutes with five crew members on board and made way towards Lambay Island.
At the same time, the Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 116 and the Howth Coast Guard boat, which had been attending a separate incident nearby, responded and assisted. Rescue 116 quickly located the first vessel and guided Howth Lifeboat to the scene. At this time, a call came in from a second sailing boat which had encountered difficulties with its rigging. The Lifeboat diverted to the second yacht, and the Howth Coast Guard boat took the Howth 17 under tow back to Howth Harbour.
The ALB began a search for the second yacht, which was unable to communicate via VHF radio. Shortly afterwards, the lifeboat located the second yacht which had managed to secure its rigging and made way under its own power.
As the lifeboat was attending the second incident, a Pan-Pan emergency was declared via VHF from a third yacht reporting a medical emergency on board. The Howth lifeboat came alongside, and two crew members were transferred to assess the casualty. The individual required further medical attention and was brought aboard the lifeboat for transfer back to Howth. An ambulance met the lifeboat crew at the station, and the casualty was handed into the care of paramedics.
After handing the casualty over, the ALB returned to sea to provide assistance to the same yacht, which was now under tow by another vessel. The lifeboat oversaw the final leg of the tow back to Howth Harbour and was then stood down.
Ian Sheridan, who was in command of the lifeboat during the callouts, said:
“Today was a perfect example of how quickly conditions at sea can change and how important it is to be ready to respond. The crew did an excellent job managing several incidents in quick succession, and we’re proud to have been able to assist everyone safely.
All of our crew are volunteers, giving their time to save lives at sea, and none of what we do would be possible without the generosity of the public. It’s their support for the RNLI that keeps us trained, equipped, and ready to launch whenever the call comes.”
