Early morning call out for Portaferry RNLI to go yacht with three onboard.

The volunteer crew launched in the early hours of Sunday (14 April) morning at 1.50am.

The lifeboat launched in cloudy weather conditions with good visibility and a force four south easterly winds. The Portaferry crew arrived on scene at 2.25am with good visibility and a moderate sea state.

When the volunteer crew arrived on scene, the yacht had made itself off the rocks and proceeded into Strangford lough Yacht Club. Portaferry RNLI closely followed the boat to the pontoon, went alongside yacht and checked that all onboard were safe and well.

Portaferry RNLI departed the scene and returned to station at 3:35am.

Ends

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone Jordan Conway, Portaferry RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on [email protected] or Nuala McAloon, Regional Media Officer on 00353 876483547 or [email protected] or Niamh Stephenson, Regional Media Manager on 00353 871254124 or [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.