
Aurora lights the way home for Largs RNLI
The volunteers at Largs RNLI were rewarded with a spectacular show of the Northern Lights following a late night shout.
The pagers of the volunteer crew at Largs RNLI sounded on Monday 12 August 2024 shorty before 11pm. The crew left their homes making their way to the lifeboat station in response to the tasking from HM Coastguard.
The volunteers launched into the dark night under a sky full of stars, with the Perseid meteor shower starting to become visible overhead.
Making their way to Toward Point, the volunteers received details of the casualty vessel, a 27-foot sailing boat, which was unable to make progress due to a lack of wind and engine failure.
On arrival at the casually vessel, which had three people on board, the helm of the lifeboat assessed the situation and made the decision to tow the boat to the nearest safe haven at Kip Marina.
The tow was completed successfully and the casualty vessel handed over into the safe care of the local Coastguard Rescue Team at Kip Marina.
Largs lifeboat was then stood down by HM Coastguard and started the return to the lifeboat station. With the crew keeping a vigilant watch in the darkness it was quickly noticed the sky was starting to change.
The dancing, swirling curtains of light of the Aurora Borealis began to move across the sky with unpredictability. The volunteers were truly being rewarded with a breathtaking display illuminating the sky above them as both the Northern Lights and the Perseid meteor shower provided quite the display.
After taking a moment to appreciate this spectacle, Largs lifeboat returned to the lifeboat station where it was cleaned, refuelled and made ready for service.
Lifeboat Operations Manager, John Griffiths said; ‘It has been a busy couple of days at Largs lifeboat station. We are fortunate here at Largs RNLI to have such a dedicated team of volunteers who are ready to drop everything at a moment’s notice to help save lives at sea.
‘The crew were delighted to witness the Aurora Borealis following their shout on Monday night. It was a magnificent sight to guide the volunteer crew safely home to the lifeboat station.
‘If you get into difficulty at sea or along the coast, or spot someone else in trouble, always dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.’
Notes to editors
RNLI media contacts
Claire McRae, Lifeboat Press Officer, 07738681546, [email protected]
Brian Rankin, Lifeboat Press Officer, 07810862468, [email protected]
Natasha Bennett, RNLI Regional Media Officer for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]
Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Media Manager for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]
RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789
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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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