A crew member had spotted the upturned hull of a boat in Clifden Bay which also raised concerns for the sailor of the boat.
Given the short distance from the lifeboat station, Clifden RNLI Helm Joe Acton launched the Silinger boat to investigate. Joe was assisted on the shout by crew members Kenny Flaherty and Dan Whelan.
The vessel was located near the White Lady shoremark in Clifden Bay. It was a small sailing boat which had been in the water for some time and there was nothing to suggest a person was in difficulty.
The submerged boat was causing a navigational hazard for mariners accessing Clifden Bay so the decision was made to tow it back to shore.
Speaking about the shout Helm Joe Acton said; 'As the Winter draws and sea conditions worsen it's important for anyone going to sea to wear a life-jacket, have a VHF radio or means of calling for help, check the tides and weather and ensure your vessel is sea-worthy. Nobody intends to get in trouble on the water but always call 999/112 and ask for the Coast Guard at the first sign of distress, Clifden RNLI are ready to respond 24/7.'
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.
