Donaghadee RNLI assists three vessels off the County Down coast
Donaghadee RNLI was called upon three times in the last week to assist vessels which got into difficulties off the coast of North Down.
The first call out was on Thursday, (25 August), after a yacht with five people aboard struck rocks at the South Briggs buoy in the Copeland Sound. At the scene the all-weather lifeboat Saxon’s crew established that no one was injured and the yacht was still seaworthy. The volunteers and the lifeboat escorted the vessel to a safe harbour for full inspection of the damage to the hull. Conditions were calm.
Saturday was also a fine and calm summer’s evening when a rigid inflatable boat (rib) with five aboard set off from Scotland for Bangor and encountered engine failure in the middle of the North Channel and night began to fall. An emergency call was made to Belfast Coastguard and the lifeboat was requested to respond. The drifting rib was quickly located eight miles from the Scottish coast. A tow-line was secured and the helpless boat and passengers were in Bangor before last light.
The lifeboat and crew were called out again on Bank Holiday Monday to come to the rescue of a small fishing boat with one person aboard. The eight-metre vessel suffered engine failure and began dragging its anchor in choppy conditions near rocks at Burial Island, Ballyhalbert. The boat was towed to Portavogie for repairs by another vessel and the lifeboat escorted the pair safely to harbour.
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For information please contact Maurice Neill, Donaghadee RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer Maurice Neill on mobile 0771 8160865, email [email protected] or Twitter @Ailsapress or Niamh Stephenson RNLI Public Relations Manager on 00 353 1 8900 460 or 00 353 87 1254 124 email [email protected] or Nuala McAloon RNLI Press Officer Tel: 00 353 87 6483547 email [email protected]
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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 146,000 lives.
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