Three vessels in difficulty at Renville towed to safety by Galway RNLI
Galway RNLI lifeboat was launched this evening (Saturday, 20 August, 2016) after two yachts and a Half Decker got into difficulty at Renville on Galway Bay.
Although conditions were rough with choppy waters and force six winds, Galway Lifeboat’s volunteer crew managed to tow all three vessels to safety, assisted by crew on the vessels.
The lifeboat crew first towed the Half Decker to safe waters and deployed its anchor and then towed the two yachts, one behind the other, out to the Half Decker, tying one of them to the smaller vessel so that they could tow the other to a safe mooring.
The crew then repeated this operation with the second yacht, untying it from the Half Decker and towing it to a safe mooring. Finally they towed the Half Decker back to the quay at the Sailing Club.
'This rescue operation took quite some time as the weather conditions were not very favourable,' said Galways RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Mike Swan.
No-one was injured in the incident and only minor damage was caused to one boat. Galway RNLI Lifeboat returned to Galway Docks at about 8pm. The volunteer crew on this call out were Kieran Oliver (Helmsman), John O’Sullivan, Leanna McHugh and Greg Cullen.
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For more information please telephone Regina Daly, Galway RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer (LPO), on 087-9618355 (m) and/or email [email protected]
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