At 3.15pm on Wednesday 7 June 2023, the lifeboat crew pagers were activated by Belfast Coastguard for the first callout of the day after reports of 2 paddleboarders in difficulty off the coast at Irvine.
RNLI/TroonLifeboat
Troon RNLI lifeboat on exercise in between callouts with the coastguard helicopter
With the crew assembling at the station, RNLI D class inshore lifeboat Sheena and Trent class all-weather lifeboat
RNLB Jim Moffat were soon launched.
Belfast Coastguard also tasked the Ardrossan Coastguard Rescue Team and 2 other vessels nearby also offered their assistance.
Once on scene, the paddleboarders were found not to be in difficulty but with an offshore breeze accepted assistance to return to shore from the inshore lifeboat crew where they were met by the coastguard team.
Once stood down, the Coastguard helicopter was returning to its base at Prestwick and as the all-weather lifeboat was at sea took the opportunity to carry out some winch training.
Once this was complete, both lifeboats returned to Troon where they were made ‘ready for service’ with the assistance of the shore crew.
The second callout came at 6.50pm as Belfast Coastguard once again requested the assistance of the crew after reports of 4 persons in a dinghy being blown offshore at Ardrossan.
Alongside the Ardrossan Coastguard Rescue Team, both lifeboats once again launched on service to assist. Just before the arrival of the lifeboats the rescue craft from the MV Alfred attended and assisted the 3 children and 1 adult on board taking them to Ardrossan harbour. Both lifeboats proceeded to Ardrossan harbour to provide any further assistance.
On arrival, those on-board were passed into the care of the coastguard team and with no further assistance required, the lifeboats were able to stand down and return to Troon where they were once again made ‘ready for service.’
Speaking following the callouts, Coxswain Matt Pearce said, ‘The recent good weather along the Ayrshire coast has seen an increased number of visitors to the beach and with more people using the water it’s important to be aware of some important safety advice.
If you are heading out onto the water this summer please make sure you check the weather and tides, be aware of offshore winds and always carry a suitable means of calling for assistance.’
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.