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Islay RNLI return beloved beach school boat

Lifeboats News Release

Previously, Islay RNLI reported launching on May 13 following reports of a partially submerged yacht at McArthur’s Head in the Sound of Islay. In a happy turn of events, it transpired the small boat belonged to Rhunahaorine Early Learning Centre (ELC) on the Kintyre peninsula 16miles away.

RNLI/Rhunahaorine ELC

Rhunahaorine ELC overjoyed to have their boat back

On the day, Islay’s Severn class all-weather lifeboat The Helmut Schroder of Dunlossit II launched quickly with five volunteer crew on board to investigate. A nearby yacht, who had reported seeing the small vessel, were standing by. Upon reaching the scene Islay lifeboat found that the reportedly submerged yacht was a small tender of approximately six foot. It was in poor condition with no persons on board. The lifeboat took it aboard to ensure it did not pose further danger to any boats in the area.

Upon returning to Port Askaig the small boat was taken ashore and faint writing on the side of the boat linked it to ‘Rhunahaorine Pre 5 Unit’. Islay RNLI reached out to the school who were delighted to hear their missing boat had been found.

The boat, which has a damaged hull and has never been seaworthy while the school have had it, is used by the schoolchildren of both Rhunahaorine and Gigha to store equipment in the dunes for their beach schools. The children had been very upset to find that their beach camp had been destroyed by vandals only a few weeks earlier and the boat missing.

Islay RNLI crew member Andy and his partner Janey happened to be travelling to the mainland with a van the following week and were very happy to return the boat to Tayinloan to reunite the children with their beloved boat. They took some RNLI goodies for the children which inspired them to learn more about the RNLI before the end of term.

Lisa MacInnes, childcare and education worker at Rhunahaorine ELC said, ‘We are so grateful to Islay RNLI, not just for saving our wee boat, but for taking it back to us. Thank you for inspiring our learning about the RNLI, and how we can keep safe beside the sea.’.

RNLI/Islay RNLI

Islay RNLI return with the small boat

RNLI/Rhunahaorine ELC

The children work together to return the boat to the beach

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, Twitter 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.

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