Portaferry RNLI rescue two men on yacht stranded on rocks
Volunteer lifeboat crew at Portaferry RNLI responded to a launch request from the coastguard today (Saturday 30 April 2016) to go to the aid of two men on board a yacht which had run onto rocks in Strangford Lough, County Down.
The weather at the time was cloudy with good visibility, a force 3 north westerly wind and calm sea.
Once the volunteer RNLI crew from Portaferry arrived, they fixed a line to the 28-foot yacht and towed it off the rocks where it had become stranded.
Once the yacht was free, the two men on board proceeded to East Down Yacht Club accompanied by the Portaferry RNLI lifeboat crew who remained with the yacht until it was safely returned to the pontoons at the yacht club.
The volunteer RNLI crew then returned to station where Portaferry RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Brian Bailie commented, ‘It has been a busy few months for the crew in Portaferry and we were delighted to have been able to assist these two men who had run into some difficulty. We are now entering our most busy time of year and we would urge everyone taking to the water to make sure that they prepare properly and check that all equipment is tested and in good working order. The RNLI offers sea safety advice on RNLI.org/RespectTheWater.’
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For more information please contact Bernard Roddy, Portaferry RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer at [email protected] or telephone 07717318003, or Nuala McAloon, RNLI Press Officer Ireland on 00353876483547, email [email protected] or Niamh Stephenson, RNLI Public Relations Manager Ireland on 00 353 87 1254 124 or [email protected]
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