Six people aboard a yacht travelling from Oban were brought to safety by Red Bay RNLI volunteers following a seven-hour rescue operation. The yacht ran into trouble off the Cushendall coast in severe gale-force conditions.
Mayday call and launch
The volunteer crew launched their all-weather lifeboat at 3:22am on Saturday, 12 September, after Belfast Coastguard received a Mayday call from the vessel. The yacht, which was heading from Oban in Scotland to Portugal, lost all power and steering after colliding with a fish farm in Red Bay amid 60-knot winds.
Under the command of Coxswain Paddy McLaughlin, with five crew members aboard, the lifeboat launched without delay. Red Bay RNLI's inshore lifeboat was also deployed to assist.
Challenging conditions
Throughout the operation, weather conditions proved challenging, with Force 9 gusting winds, heavy rain, and complete darkness. Upon arrival, the crew confirmed that all aboard were unharmed but unable to move because the yacht had become ensnared in the fish cages.
Considering the harsh weather and sea conditions, the Coxswain determined that the safest approach was for the sailors to stay aboard the yacht while the lifeboat remained on standby until daybreak at 7:30am.
Rescue and aftermath
At 9:30am, the lifeboat crew managed to free the yacht from the fish farm and transported the sailors safely to Glenarm, arriving at 10am where they received assistance from Larne Coastguard.
Following the rescue, Paddy McLaughlin, Red Bay RNLI Coxswain, said: "This was a challenging call out in difficult weather conditions, but we were delighted to bring the sailors to safety, and we would like to wish them well."
He added: "We would also like to commend our colleagues in the Coastguard and thank our crew who responded quickly in the middle of the night, launched our lifeboats in darkness and made their way to the scene in what were gale force conditions, and for then spending seven hours at sea."
McLaughlin concluded: "This shout was a great example of the selfless and dedicated efforts of volunteers who used their skills and training to bring six people to safety in what was a challenging operation."
