#RNLI - At 7:30am yesterday morning (Saturday 23 July), Bangor RNLI was requested by HM Coastguard to attend a boat off Carrickfergus in Belfast Lough, following the firing of a red distress flare.

On arrival at the scene, the volunteer crew were able to confirm that the boat, with two men on board, had fired the flare.

The men had left Carrickfergus early yesterday evening in calm conditions, but then suffered the loss of their main engine, followed by the failure of the auxiliary outboard.

After several hours trying to fix the problem without success, and with no working mobile phone or radio, they decided to wait until morning to fire a flare to attract attention.

The crew quickly rigged up a line between the stricken vessel and the Bangor lifeboat Jessie Hillyard, and towed them to Carrickfergus Marina. Just outside the marina they tied the motorboat alongside for better manoeuvrability in the close confines of the marina.

Bangor RNLI helm Gareth Whan said: “The crew and I are happy to have brought these men to safety, after what must have been a fairly miserable night for them on board a boat with no power in Belfast Lough.

“Incidents like this highlight the importance of ensuring your engines are in good working order, and the need to have a reliable way of calling for help if things go wrong.

"Luckily for them, the weather stayed good overnight, and the flare was spotted this morning.”

Previously the Bangor lifeboat was called out to rescue boys trapped on rocks while fishing last weekend, as reported on Afloat.ie.

#RNLI - Skerries RNLI launched yesterday afternoon (Thursday 21 July) after Dublin Coast Guard received a call from a vessel that had suffered engine failure near the islands off the North Co Dublin coastal town.

The lifeboat launched shortly after 4.30pm and proceeded to the general area indicated by the casualty vessel.

Arriving on scene, the volunteer crew spotted the speedboat, which had been pushed on to the rocks at Colt Island by the wind and tide. At the time there was a Force 3-4 south-westerly wind and a slight swell.

The lifeboat was carefully positioned to transfer a crew member to the casualty vessel. A tow was established and the boat, with four men on board, was towed clear of the rocks into safer water.

Upon inspection there did not appear to be any major damage to the hull so the tow was continued, returning them safely to Skerries Harbour.

Speaking after the callout, Skerries RNLI lifeboat press officer Gerry Canning said: "Thankfully the lifeboat reached them quickly as the situation was deteriorating quite quickly.

"However, all four were wearing lifejackets and crucially they were able to contact the shore for help."

#RNLI - It was just a routine exercise for Bangor RNLI's volunteer lifeboat crew on Sunday night (17 July) until they got the call to rescue two young boys who were cut off by a rising tide while fishing at The Long Hole on Belfast Lough.

With assistance from HM Coastguard, the lifeboat was able to rescue the boys and return them safely to Bangor Marina.

Bangor RNLI volunteer lifeboat press officer Peter Semple said: "The crew and I were delighted to be able to put their training to use, particularly in such a rocky part of the coast.

"Although the boys were in no immediate danger, and their only concern after we got them back to dry land was that they got their fishing rods back, it is important for parents to explain the risks of being caught by a rising tide."

Bangor's lifeboat crew on this callout were helm Peter Semple with Dave Beale, Kat Lindsay and Alison Stobie.

#RNLI - Red Bay RNLI was paged at 6am this morning (Wednesday 20 July) to go to the aid of a 40ft yacht, with two people on board, after the vessel suffered engine failure and was unable to move.

The sailors were on passage from Scotland to Isle of Man when they got into difficulty some three miles east of Red Bay in Co Antrim.

With dense fog in the area, Belfast Coastguard requested the launch of the Red Bay all-weather lifeboat to tow the vessel to safety – and all safely arrived into Cushendall by 8.30am.

#RNLI - Both Wicklow RNLI lifeboats launched on Monday afternoon (Monday 18 July) after the Irish Coast Guard received a report of a capsized boat drifting off Greystones.

The inshore lifeboat was first on scene and located the upturned Laser yacht, drifting south of Greystones Harbour.

The crew began an immediate search of the area in case there might be casualties in the water.

Weather conditions in the area were described as wind direction south Force 4 with a moderate sea state, and visibility was good.

During the search by both lifeboats, a call was received from the coastguard to say two people had been taken from the capsized boat by a sailing club tender and were landed safely at Greystones.

The tender then made its way back out to recover the overturned yacht. The inshore lifeboat crew assisted with righting the capsized boat and escorted the tender and the Laser yacht into Greystones before returning to Wicklow.

#RNLI - Fethard RNLI launched yesterday afternoon (Monday 18 July) for the second time in 24 hours, to a report of four people in difficulty due to dense fog at Woodstown Strand.

The Irish Coast Guard received a report that a party of four may have got into difficulty in the water as intense fog set in on the Co Waterford beach. The Fethard lifeboat launched from Duncannon in a light southerly Force 2 breeze with calm seas.

Arriving at Woodstown, the volunteer crew commenced a search north of the strand, incorporating a land search of the surrounding caves. Volunteer RNLI shore crew also attended at the strand and carried out search on the strand.

At 3.15pm, Fethard RNLI was stood down on notification from the Irish Coast Guard that all members were safely ashore and well.

Speaking following the callout, Fethard RNLI lifeboat helm Eoin Bird said: "We would like commend the member of the public who raised the alarm today when they were concerned.

"Our volunteers responded quickly this afternoon to aid in the search and we are delighted that all had been located safe and well."

Less than a day before the Fethard lifeboat was called out to assist a RIB with a fouled propeller off the strand, as previously reported on Afloat.ie.

#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.

#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."