Red Bay RNLI rescue six people in seven-hour overnight operation

The volunteer crew were requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat at 3.22am this morning (Saturday, 12 September) after Belfast Coastguard received a Mayday from the vessel which got into difficulty while on passage from Oban in Scotland to Portugal. The yacht lost all power and steering after making contact with a fish farm in Red Bay, in 60 knots of wind, causing it to become trapped.

The lifeboat under Coxswain Paddy McLaughlin and with five crew members onboard, launched immediately and made its way the short distance to the scene. The inshore lifeboat from Red Bay RNLI also launched to assist.

Weather conditions were difficult throughout the call out with Force 9 gusting winds, driving rain and the darkness of night.

Once on scene, the crew observed that all onboard were safe but trapped due to the yacht having got entangled on the fish cages.

Given the difficult weather and sea conditions, the Coxswain made the decision that the safest course of action was for the sailors to remain onboard the yacht and for the lifeboat to standby until daylight broke at 7.30am.

At 9.30am the lifeboat crew successfully freed the yacht from the fish farm and brought the sailors safely to Glenarm where they arrived at 10am and were assisted by Larne Coastguard.

Speaking following the call out, Paddy McLaughlin, Red Bay RNLI Coxswain said: ‘This was a challenging call out in difficult weather conditions, but we were delighted to bring the sailors to safety, and we would like to wish them well.

‘We would also like to commend our colleagues in the Coastguard and thank our crew who responded quickly in the middle of the night, launched our lifeboats in darkness and made their way to the scene in what were gale force conditions, and for then spending seven hours at sea. This shout was a great example of the selfless and dedicated efforts of volunteers who used their skills and training to bring six people to safety in what was a challenging operation.’

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