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Lough Derg RNLI assists 3 people on a 26ft cruiser with engine failure

Lifeboats News Release

Earlier today Wednesday 29 May, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat to launch to assist 3 people on a 26ft cruiser with engine failure and at anchor in Youghal Bay, east of Garrykennedy Harbour.

Archive photo of Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat 'Jean Spier' as she sets out on a Shout, the 4 volunteers are facing away and the name of the lifeboat is visible on the starboard side

RNLI/Eleanor Hooker

Archive photo of Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat 'Jean Spier'
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At 5.34pm Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat Jean Spier launched with helm Dom Sharkey, crew Eleanor Hooker, Chris Parker and Joe O’Donoghue on board. The wind was north-westerly, Force 3 to 4. Visibility was good.

At 5.41pm the lifeboat located the casualty vessel at the location given. The casualty vessel’s anchor was holding. An RNLI volunteer boarded the vessel and determined all on board were safe and unharmed and wearing their lifejackets.

Given the location, the deteriorating weather conditions and the casualty vessel’s proximity to Garrykennedy, the safest close harbour, the helm made the decision to take the casualty vessel under an astern tow to the harbour. The lifeboat helm informed Valentia Coast Guard of this decision.
The casualty vessel was safely tied alongside at 6.08pm. The lifeboat departed the scene and was back at station at 6.31pm.

Aoife Kennedy, Launching Authority at Lough Derg RNLI, advises boat users to ‘carry sufficient fuel for your journey, and if you find yourself in difficulty, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard’.


Yesterday evening, Tuesday 28 May, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat to launch to assist 6 people on a 31ft cruiser with engine failure and at anchor on the west shore of Lough Derg between Williamstown and Drummaan.


At 6.54pm Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat Jean Spier launched with helm Dom Sharkey, crew Chris Parker, Tom Hayes and Oisín Higgins on board. The wind was westerly Force 4. Visibility was good.
At 7.06pm the lifeboat came alongside the casualty vessel. All 6 people on board were safe and unharmed and wearing their lifejackets.

Given the isolated location, the hour and that there were seniors and infants on board, the helm made the decision to take the casualty vessel under tow back to Dromineer, where the casualties had their car and a means to get home. The helm informed Valentia Coast Guard of this decision.
The casualty vessel was safely tied alongside in Dromineer Harbour at 7.38pm. The lifeboat was back at station at 7.56pm.


Aoife Kennedy, Launching Authority at Lough Derg RNLI advises boat users to 'ensure your vessel is serviced before undertaking a journey. Always check the weather forecast and carry a means of communication’.


Ends

Notes to editors
RNLI media contacts
For more information please telephone Eleanor Hooker, Lough Derg RNLI volunteer helm and Lifeboat Press Officer on 0877535207 or [email protected] or Nuala McAloon, Regional Media Officer on 0876483547 [email protected] or Niamh Stephenson, Regional Media Manager on 0871254124 or [email protected]

RNLI online
For more information on the RNLI please visit rnli.org. News releases and other media
resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the
RNLI News Centre rnli.org/news-and-media.

Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around Ireland and the UK. The RNLI operates 46 lifeboat stations in Ireland. The RNLI is independent of government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, the charity has saved over 142,700 lives.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.

About the author

Eleanor Hooker
Lifeboat Press Officer, Lough Derg Lifeboat Station

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