#RNLI - The volunteer lifeboat crew with Red Bay RNLI in Co Antrim were paged on Friday evening (12 September) at 6.55pm to a lone sailor on a 22ft yacht who got into difficulty in strong tides off the North Antrim coast.

The sailor had left Portrush for Bangor at 7am that morning and requested assistance from Belfast Coastguard later in the day after he was unable to make any headway in the seas.

The lifeboat had difficulty locating the vessel due to fog and the fact that the tides had pushed the boat some four miles off course south of Rathlin Island.

However, once located, the yacht was towed by the Red Bay lifeboat crew to Cushendall, arriving at 9.45pm.

Red Bay RNLI spokesman Paddy McLaughlin commented: "Tonight's call out was made more difficult due to the strong tides and fog but we were able to locate the sailor using our onboard VHF direction-finding equipment and radar."

The volunteer lifeboat crew from Cushendall have been kept busy over the past few months answering a large number of emergency calls off the North Antrim coast.

#RNLI - Lifeboat volunteer crewmembers with Douglas RNLI on the Isle of Man were paged at 9.24pm on Thursday evening (11 September) to a report of a person in the Irish Sea off Victoria Pier.

The all-weather lifeboat Sir William Hillary was launched under the command of coxswain Neal Corran, who proceeded to the seaward side of the Victoria Pier where the person was successfully located.

The casualty was recovered to the lifeboat and taken immediately to the Liner Berth inside the harbour to a waiting ambulance.

The lifeboat then returned to the boathouse to be washed down, re-fuelled and was ready again for service at 10.15pm.

#RNLI - Rosslare Harbour RNLI has assisted three crew onboard a 20m yacht which got into difficulty off the north Wexford coast yesterday evening (Thursday 11 September).

The volunteer crew launched their all-weather lifeboat at 5pm to go to the assistance of a 20m sailing ketch yacht which had engine failure, some 30 miles north east of Rosslare Harbour off the Wexford coast.

The three crew on board the yacht were in no immediate danger and contacted the emergency services quickly. Sea conditions were calm with a slight south east breeze.

Once located, the yacht was taken in tow and brought to the safety of Rosslare Europort.

Speaking following the callout, Rosslare Harbour RNLI volunteer lifeboat press officer Jamie Ryan said: "We would like to commend the swift action of the yacht’s crew in contacting the coastguard who in turn alerted the volunteers at Rosslare Harbour RNLI."

#RNLI - Bundoran RNLI has urged anyone planning on setting off fireworks or anything similar that could be mistaken for a distress flare to inform the coastguard in advance after a false alarm on Saturday night (6 September).

At 10.40pm the Bundoran volunteer lifeboat crew were asked to launch by Malin Head Coast Guard to reports of a red flare being sighted somewhere in Donegal Bay.

A red flare is universally known as a distress signal, and when an emergency call was made by a member of the public from Ballyshannon, the watch officers at Malin Head immediately requested the launch of Bundoran RNLI, as well as tasking the Killybegs coastguard boat.

As the caller was unsure of the precise location of the flare, sighting it somewhere between Ballyshannon and St John’s Point, both boats commenced searches of the area. looking for a vessel that may have signalled an emergency.

As the searches were underway, information was received that fireworks had been set off on the coastline in the bay around the time of the emergency call to 999.

Even though it was determined that this was the most likely cause of the red flare sighting, both boats continued to search the area until the coastguard was satisfied that no vessel was in trouble. Both units were then stood down after one hour.

Speaking on their return to the lifeboat station around midnight, Karol McNern, who helmed the Bundoran lifeboat, said: "Thankfully this was just a false alarm and we are, as always, happy to launch to something that people may be unsure of rather than not be launched at all.

"We would however urge anybody who is planning on setting off fireworks, Chinese lanterns or anything that could be mistaken for a distress flare, near the coast, to please inform the coastguard in advance of the approximate time and location so that search and rescue assets need not be unnecessarily launched."

#RNLI - Skerries RNLI towed a motorboat with four people on board to safety on yesterday morning (Sunday 7 September) after they developed electrical problems and were unable to start their engine.

Shortly after 11am, Dublin Coast Guard requested the Skerries RNLI volunteer crew to launch their Atlantic 85 lifeboat Louis Simson after receiving a report from another vessel of a motorboat in difficulty on the eastern side of Lambay Island.

The lifeboat, with Eoin Duff at the helm and crewed by Conor Walsh, Peter Kennedy and Rob Morgan, proceeded directly to the last known position of the craft to begin a search. At the time of the launch there was a Force 3 northeasterly wind with calm seas.

The motorboat was quickly located at anchor close to the island. A tow was established and the boat, with four people on board was brought safely to Rush Harbour. 



Speaking after the callout, volunteer lifeboat press officer Gerry Canning said: "Sometimes, no matter how well prepared you are, things can go wrong at sea.

"Thankfully another boat spotted the danger and called the coastguard."

#RNLI - Wicklow RNLI rescued a male swimmer who got into difficulty yesterday afternoon (Thursday 4 September).

The rescue followed a request from the Irish Coast Guard for the volunteer lifeboat crew to search for a missing swimmer at Silver Strand beach.

The alarm was raised by the swimmer’s wife who was concerned for his safety and by members of the public who heard his call for help.

The all-weather lifeboat had already launched at 2.30pm and was on her way to meet and escort a former visiting lifeboat into the harbour when it was requested.

The lifeboat diverted immediately and proceeded south towards Wicklow Head to begin a search. The inshore lifeboat also launched to assist. Weather conditions and visibility in the area were good at the time.

During the search, a person was spotted in the water about one mile offshore near Brides head.

The all-weather lifeboat, under the command of second coxswain Ciaran Doyle, was quickly alongside the casualty. Crewmember Matt Doyle took him from the water using a scramble net.

First aid was administered to the exhausted man by Carol Flahive as the lifeboat made its way back to Wicklow Harbour.

The lifeboat was met on arrival at the East Pier by a waiting ambulance, where the swimmer was treated by paramedics. He did not need to be hospitalised.

It was quickly established that the man had been swimming off Silver Strand when he was carried quite a distance north with the tide and strong currents, which prevented him getting ashore.

At Wicklow Head, he was swept further out to sea. That's when members of the public on the cliff contacted the coastguard after hearing his call for help.

Speaking after the callout, Wicklow RNLI lifeboat operations manager Des Davitt said: "The swimmer was extremely lucky today to be spotted so quickly by the crew and thankfully a tragic outcome was avoided."

#RNLI - Baltimore RNLI launched within minutes of being alerted to a drifting fishing boat off Yokane Point, west of the Stags in West Cork.

The two men on board the 30-foot motorboat had set out for a peaceful day's fishing on a sunny Autumn afternoon when found themselves in trouble after their engine failed to restart.

But within half an hour of calling for assistance, the Baltimore lifeboat was alongside, with crewman Kieran Collins establishing a tow.

The lifeboat then towed the fishing boat to safety, arriving at Baltimore Harbour at 5.50pm. The motorboat was then secured to the pier by 6.05pm.

Half an hour later the lifeboat returned to station and was ready for service again after essential cleaning and maintenance by 7pm.

On board were coxswain Aidan Bushe, mechanic Cathal Cottrell, Brian McSweeney, Sean McCarthy, Kieran Collins, Micheál Cottrell and RNLI staffer Johnny Clooney.

#RNLI - Skerries RNLI towed a group of four adults and one child safely to shore after their motorboat developed engine difficulties.

Skerries RNLI volunteer crew launched their Atlantic 85 lifeboat Louis Simson shortly after 4.30pm yesterday afternoon (Monday 1 September) following reports to Dublin Coast Guard of a motorboat adrift near the Perch marker off Skerries.

The crew could see the casualty vessel almost immediately after exiting the launching trolley and proceeded directly to them.

Once alongside, it was discovered that the outboard engine would not start. A tow was established and the boat was returned safely to shore.



At the time of the launch there was a Force 1 easterly wind with calm seas. 



Speaking after the callout, volunteer lifeboat press officer Gerry Canning said: "This was a good result – most importantly, everybody on board was wearing a lifejacket and the alarm was raised quickly."

#RNLI - For a free, fun, family day out, look no further than Howth this Sunday 31 August for the annual Open Day at Howth RNLI.

Between 2pm and 5pm the public can meet the volunteer crew, see the lifeboats and try some of the local food, drink and activities that prove Howth Is Magic.

Last year's event was hailed as a great success and all at the lifeboat station are expecting the same for this year. For more see the Howth Lifeboat Open Day event page on Facebook HERE.

#RNLI - A lifeboat crewmember from Clogherhead RNLI has been praised for his swift actions in rescuing two men from a fishing vessel that sank at the weekend.

Sean Flanagan and his son were fishing approximately two miles away from Port Oriel in Co Louth on Saturday 23 August when they noticed a Razor fishing boat sink a mile in the distance shortly before 5.30pm.

Flanagan, a highly trained volunteer crewmember, raised the alarm and made a Mayday call. He quickly hauled his gear and made best speed to the scene where he found two men in the water alongside their sunken boat.

Together with his son, Flanagan successfully pulled the men out of the water and into the safety of his vessel.

Meanwhile, Clogherhead RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat under coxswain Tomas Whelan and with four crewmembers on board had launched and made its way to the scene. The Dublin-based Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 116 was also tasked.

Weather conditions at the time were described as good with clear visibility and a calm sea state.

The casualties were transferred to the lifeboat on arrival where they were medically assessed by lifeboat crew. They were then airlifted by helicopter to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.

Speaking following the callout, Whelan said: "We have to commend the swift actions of our lifeboat crew member Sean Flanagan who not only made the Mayday call for the emergency services but then rapidly went to the scene and rescued the two men from the sea."