Dunmore East RNLI lifeboat crew assist yacht with fouled sails

The sailing vessel had fouled its sails and could not lower them to enter the harbour. The vessel was located half a mile East of Dunmore East Harbour.

At 2:20am the Dunmore East RNLI lifeboat launched on service to assist a 38ft yacht with fouled sails. The yacht with four people on board was located a half a mile East of Dunmore Harbour.

Minutes after launch, the Trent Class Dunmore East lifeboat ‘Elizabeth and Ronald’ arrived on scene to find the sailing vessel with its sails up and fouled. The vessel found it difficult to keep a heading and crew on board could not lower the sails. The lifeboat came alongside the yacht and two volunteers from the Dunmore East RNLI boarded the yacht. The RNLI crew managed to solve the issue and lower the sails so the yacht could make its way, under power, to Dunmore East Harbour. Escorted by Dunmore East Lifeboat they made the safety of the harbour at 3:15am.

Dunmore East RNLI Coxswain Michael Griffin says: ‘the crew of the yacht made the right call, visibility was poor at the time and the outcome could have been a lot worse. Our two crew, who went on board the yacht, did a great job in sorting out the sails and lowering them so quickly’.
 
Ends
 
Photo Credit: Neville Murphy
 
RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact Neville Murphy, Dunmore East volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on  0876961832, email [email protected] or contact Nuala McAloon RNLI Press Officer Ireland on 0876483547 or email [email protected] or Niamh Stephenson RNLI Public Relations Manager Ireland on 0871254124 or 018900460 or email [email protected]
 

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 146,000 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok 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.