Tipperary RNLI comes to the assistance of eight people in two callouts over bank holiday

Lough Derg RNLI came to the assistance of a total of eight people in two separate callouts on the lake over the May Bank Holiday weekend.

The callouts were made on Friday afternoon and this Sunday.

In the first incident, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI to launch following a report from a member of the public that a vessel was aground at Castlelough below Parker’s Point. 

At 1.55pm Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat Jean Spier launched with helm Eleanor Hooker, Steve Smyth, Chris Parker and Richard Nolan on board.

At 2.09pm the RNLI lifeboat volunteers could see the casualty vessel at a location close to a woodland shore south of Castlelough. They navigated the lifeboat through safe water close to the casualty vessel.

Using local knowledge and onboard navigation tools crew identified the edge of the rocky shoal on which the lake boat was grounded and pivoting on a rock mid-keel.

Carrying a handheld VHF radio and a general purpose line, an RNLI volunteer waded in to the casualty vessel and established that the two people on board were safe and unharmed, and their boat not holed.

The RNLI crew requested the skipper to lift their outboard engine to reduce drag whilst he eased the boat off the rock. The engine’s propellers were not damaged after the casualty vessel grounded.

The RNLI volunteer climbed aboard the casualty vessel, which then made way back out to safe water and alongside the lifeboat.

On Sunday, 

On Sunday evening, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI to launch following a report from a member of the public that a 40ft cruiser was aground inside Rabbit Island and the Split Rock navigation mark near Rossmore Quay on the Galway shore. 

At 6.13pm Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat Jean Spier launched with helm Owen Cavanagh, Eleanor Hooker and Joe O’Donoghue on board.

At 6.25pm the RNLI lifeboat volunteers could see the casualty vessel. The lifeboat crew navigated through safe water to the casualty vessel and was alongside at 6.35pm.

There were six people on board, all safe and unharmed. They were requested to put on their lifejackets.

A RNLI lifeboat crew member transferred across to the casualty vessel and checked under the floorboards to confirm that the vessel was not holed.

Given the location and the weather, the helm made the decision to take the vessel off the shoal and asked crew to set up for a tow. The skipper of the casualty vessel was requested to empty their water tanks to lighten the boat.

Having established that it was not possible to take the vessel off the shoal from the bow of the casualty vessel, it was decided that four of the passengers would use their tender to take them to Rossmore Quay close by, their intended destination. A passing fishing vessel took the remaining two passengers.

Two experienced mariners offered support in their RIB and were asked to accompany the fishing vessel and the tender to shore.  

With a RNLI lifeboat crew member remaining on the casualty vessel, the lifeboat took back in all lines and established the bridle and tow on the stern of the cruiser which was then freed from the shoal and towed out in to safe water.

All drives, forward and astern, and the rudder were found to be in good working order.

A second RNLI volunteer boarded the casualty vessel to prepare mooring lines while it made way under its own power to Rossmore Quay. 

Christine O’Malley, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Lough Derg RNLI advises boat owners to "plot your course and remain within the navigation channel. Always carry a means of communication so that if you find yourself in difficulty you can call 112 or 999 and ask for marine rescue."