#RNLI - A major search was mounted on the south coast between Crosshaven and Kinsale on Friday (15 July) after a lone yachtsman broadcast a Mayday call that he was on the rocks at the Little Sovereign Rock.

Lifeboat pagers were activated at 12.07pm and both Crosshaven and Kinsale RNLI headed to the location, joined by Crosshaven Coast Guard and the Waterford-based Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 117.

Conditions were poor on scene, with a fog reducing visibility to just 200m. Kinsale RNLI found no trace of the yacht at the Sovereigns, while Crosshaven RNLI searched the shore from Roberts Head west. Crosshaven Coast Guard stood offshore as a radio relay to Valentia Coast Guard.

The Crosshaven lifeboat crew eventually located the vessel aground in Rocky Bay. One crewmember swam to the yacht with a towline and retrieved the its anchor and line. The yacht was then refloated and towed into deeper water.

After handing off the tow to Kinsale RNLI, the vessel and its yachtsman were returned to Oysterhaven none the worse for wear.

#RNLI - Fethard RNLI's inshore lifeboat Tradewinds launched yesterday afternoon (Sunday 17 July) to a 6m RIB with a fouled propeller off Woodstown Strand in Waterford.

The RIB got into difficulty when its propeller became entangled in mussel cages within the shellfish bed area off of Woodstown Strand, leaving it stranded.

There was six people, four male and two female, on board the RIB, all of whom were wearing lifejackets.

The Fethard lifeboat launched from Duncannon, with good weather and a south-westerly wind of Force 2-3, and arrived with the casualties at 4pm.

The volunteer lifeboat crew were required to take some passengers off the RIB to help propel the craft up and enable them successfully to release the propeller from the mussel cages.

Once released, the RIB was towed by the lifeboat to deep water where its engine was restarted. The lifeboat then accompanied the RIB back to Dunmore East.

Speaking following the callout, Fethard RNLI deputy launching authority Tony Molloy said: "The casualties did the right thing in calling for assistance. They did not panic, stayed clam and all members were wearing lifejackets.

"The RNLI crew were on scene swiftly prior to high tide due at 5pm, therefore there was no imminent danger or any requirement for the casualties to abandon their RIB."

Molloy added: "It is important to watch out for safety markers off of our coastline, as such help notify boaters of potential hazards.

"In this instance they had VHF and prior to launching had determined the best course of action to take if they were to get into trouble.'

Two days previously Fethard RNLI launched to a 21-foot lobster boat with a fouled propeller one mile from Baginbun Head.

The volunteer lifeboat crew were able to release the rope and the fishing vessel, with one on board, returned to Fethard Dock under its own steam.

In other Fethard lifeboat news, funds will be raised for the long-running lifeboat station at the inaugural Waves Music Festival next month, as previously reported on Afloat.ie.

The Irish Coast Guard co-ordinated a very successful Marine Search and Rescue demonstration yesterday, Saturday 16th July. As Afloat.ie reported previously, the exercise in Moville Co Donegal involved some of Ireland’s principal Search and Rescue resources. Participants included Donegal based volunteer Coast Guard units, the Sligo based Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter, Naval ship LÉ Orla, Air Corps Casa, RNLI’s new Shannon Class All Weather Lifeboat, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, UK Maritime Coastguard Agency, Irish Water Safety, Mountain Rescue Ireland and the Civil Defence.
Speaking after the event Gerard O’Flynn, the Coast Guard’s Search and Rescue Operations Manager said: ‘This exercise afforded the public a wonderful opportunity to see Ireland’s search and rescue resources conducting a series a realistic but challenging tasks, more importantly it enabled the Coast Guard to exercise interoperability between the different assets.”
The event included a series of water based safety demonstrations.
“Prevention and adherence to basic safety is the key element in minimising loss of life at sea and on our waterways”, concluded SARs Manager Gerard O’Flynn.
The main events:
Mud rescue demonstration by nearby members of the Maritime Coastguard Agency, Bay Field in the low water river bed.
The Donegal Mountain Rescue team along with their colleagues in the Civil Defence also at Bay Field displayed their new Drone
Greencastle Coast Guard unit executed a number of cliff rescue displays.
Rescue 115, the Sligo based rescue helicopter along with the crew of LÉ Orla completed a number of winching exercise. From the deck of LÉ Orla and a “wet” lift.
The Air Corps Casa demonstrated the use of airborne life rafts as well as conducting communications exercises with air and surface resources.
Over the course of the day, Volunteer Coast Guard units from Donegal, Mulroy, Killybegs, Greencastle and Bunbeg completed number of rescue manoeuvres including - man over board, swimmer/paddle board in difficult, fishing vessel on fire.

#RNLI - Dunmore East RNLI's lifeboat crew launched in the early hours of yesterday morning (Saturday 16 July) to assist a 38ft yacht with four people on board.

The sailing vessel, half a mile east of Dunmore East Harbour, had fouled its sails and could not lower them to enter the harbour.

Minutes after launch at 2.20am, the Trent class lifeboat Elizabeth and Ronald arrived on scene to find the sailing vessel with its sails up and fouled. The vessel found it difficult to keep a heading and crew on board could not lower the sails.

The lifeboat came alongside the yacht and two volunteers boarded the yacht to help fix the issue and lower the sails so the yacht could make its way under power to the harbour.

Escorted by the Dunmore East lifeboat, they yacht reached the safety of the harbour at 3:15am.

Dunmore East RNLI coxswain Michael Griffin said: "The crew of the yacht made the right call; visibility was poor at the time and the outcome could have been a lot worse.

"Our two crew, who went on board the yacht, did a great job in sorting out the sails and lowering them so quickly."

#RNLI - Donaghadee RNLI's lifeboat crew saved a stricken yacht with one person onboard after it was left helpless in poor weather off the coast of Millisle, Co Down.

Donaghadee lifeboat Saxon and her volunteer crew sped to the last reported position of the vessel at top speed of 25 knots after a launch request from the coastguard at 9.30pm on Friday evening (15 July).

A strong south-westerly wind was blowing with rain forecast, and night was falling as the lifeboat crew searched before locating the yacht two miles offshore. No radio contact was possible.

A towline was quickly attached and the yacht brought to Donaghadee Harbour for inspection and repairs.

It was the lifeboat’s second launch of the week. Last Sunday evening (10 July) Saxon and crew put to sea in response to a man overboard alert in Ballyhalbert after a pleasure sailor fell from his boat and was unable to get back aboard.

However, the casualty was assisted by another vessel and was able to make his way ashore uninjured.

Donaghadee RNLI coxswain Philip McNamara said: "We are always happy to launch if there is a chance we can prevent an emergency or save a life at sea. But everyone enjoying the coast this summer should respect the water and wear lifejackets when around deep water.

"If you are boating make sure you have a reliable means of contacting the shore and of calling for help."

Howth RNLI launched at 1.15pm Thursday 14th July 2016 to reports of Sailing Yacht with 4 adults and 3 children aground just off Ireland Eye.

The casualty vessel was quickly located and towed to safety.

The request to launch came at 1.15pm and the Howth RNLI all-weather lifeboat proceeded outside the harbour and quickly located the yacht aground in Howth sound. The 32ft Sailing yacht had 4 adults and 3 children aboard. All were wearing lifejackets.

Weather was excellent with overcast clouds but good visibility. The sea state was calm with little or no wind present. The tide was quite low with another hour to go to low tide.
Howth RNLI volunteers Fin Goggin and Stephen Mullaney threw a tow line to the casualty vessel which was then secured and Howth RNLI Coxswain Fred Connolly used his driving skills to safely tow the casualty vessel off the rocks with little or no damage. When clear the sailing yacht was able to make its own way back to Howth Harbour.
Howth RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Colm Newport says: ‘A quick call was made by the skipper of the yacht as soon as he got into difficulty which showed good seamanship. These things happen and we were delighted to be able to assist.”

#RespectTheWater - The RNLI has placed a tonne of water in Galway and Dun Laoghaire respectively for the summer months in a bid to show visitors and locals alike the power of the water, river and sea.

The tonnes of water, which will be located at the Spanish Arch in Galway and Dun Laoghaire's East Pier until the end of August, forms part of the RNLI’s Respect The Water campaign.

Each tonne is printed with important advice about the power of water, such as how fast a rip current can flow. They will also demonstrate to people how heavy a relatively small volume of water is – one cubic metre of water weighs one tonne.

They were created to be a visual and engaging way of delivering this message that no matter how strong a swimmer you might be, you are no match for the power of the water.

Last month the RNLI launched its annual national drowning prevention campaign, Respect The Water, and this year the charity is warning the public to watch out for key dangers that can catch people out in or near water.

#RNLI - Ballycotton RNLI was launched around 2.30pm yesterday afternoon (Tuesday 12 July) to aid a man who had got into difficulty while swimming in East Cork's Ballyandreen Bay and called for help.

A member of the public heard the man's call and immediately alerted Valentia Coast Guard, who tasked Ballycotton's volunteer crew to launch both their all-weather and inshore lifeboats.

The inshore lifeboat was first to arrive on scene and the crew on board recovered the casualty from the water before transferring him to the all-weather lifeboat, where he was medically assessed, administered first aid and given oxygen.

The Irish Coast Guard's Waterford-based helicopter Rescue 117 was also tasked and arrived on scene around 3pm to airlift the casualty to Cork University Hospital, where he is said to be in a stable condition.

Speaking following the callout, Ballycotton RNLI coxswain Eolan Walsh said: "We would like to commend the member of the public who raised the alarm today as well as the immediate first aid action of the volunteer crew.

"Their quick-thinking and actions ensured that there was a positive outcome today for this casualty. We would also like to wish him a speedy recovery."

#WaterSafety - This summer the RNLI is launching the second year of the popular Beach Builder Challenge using the interactive video game Minecraft, which allows children to create and build virtual worlds.

Available to play from Monday 1 August, the Beach Builder Challenge was created by the RNLI to teach children about beach and water safety.

The RNLI has this year expanded the virtual world to include a Beach Island Adventure, which means that as well as being able to create epic beaches, creative youngsters are also tasked with completing four levels based on the charity’s Stay SAFE acronym: Spot the dangers, Take Advice, Stay close to a Friend or family member, and learn what to do in an Emergency.

"This is a fun and interactive game for 7–14 year olds to play during the summer holidays," says Jenny Thompson, RNLI lifeguard supervisor on the Causeway Coast. "We really hope the challenges will help Minecraft users visiting the beach this summer put their newly acquired beach safety knowledge into reality, and have fun while staying safe."

Last year’s Beach Builder Challenge was a huge success with more than 8,000 children participating from all over the world, including Canada, Australia and the USA. It also proved successful in helping to reach a high number of children living in inland communities across Ireland and the UK.

Feedback from 2015 suggests the game is an excellent education platform particularly as results found that 97% of participants, after playing the game, knew to go to a lifeguarded beach; and there was a 20% increase in the number of children who knew to dial 999 and ask for the coastguard if they saw someone in trouble at the beach.

Bridiee Appleby-Gunnill, the RNLI’s Community Safety Product Manager, added: "We’ve created a fun, educational experience where a young person can engage and learn about water safety in a self-organised way and where academic ability does not limit learning.

"Research suggests that children learn and retain more when they can organise their own learning. Last year’s feedback has shown Minecraft to be a fantastic enabler in allowing this to happen.

"I’m really hopeful the results of this year’s challenge will be just as encouraging. We’ll be looking for participants to take part in research, to help us further develop ways to enable water safety learning in this age group."

This year, children using different platforms will be able to talk to one another while taking part in the challenge. To register your child’s involvement email [email protected].

#RNLI - A visiting yacht which ran aground on the way into Wexford Harbour was rescued by Wexford RNLI on Thursday afternoon (7 July) in what was the third callout for the volunteer crew this week.

The previous evening, the lifeboat launched at 8.15pm to reports of a walker on rocks near Wexford Bridge by members of Wexford Marinewatch who were concerned for their safety.

The lifeboat made its way to the wall which immerses in high tide and stood by until the individual was safely back on dry land.

On Tuesday (6 July) the lifeboat launched to reports of a possible sighting in the water, described as a white object that was splashing near Ferrycarrig Hotel. An extensive search of the area was carried out with nothing found.

Speaking after the week’s missions, Wexford RNLI volunteer lifeboat press officer Lorraine Galvin said: "All our volunteers are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week and typically launch the lifeboat under 10 minutes of a 999 call.

"With at least two training exercises a week, the volunteers commit a great amount of time to providing rescue cover from Killurin Bridge to Curracloe Beach.

"We would also like to thank the fundraisers, who are all volunteers for their recent Flag Day collection and all those who donate to the RNLI to keep the service going allowing us to continue to saves lives at sea."