Sligo Bay RNLI launches in force 8 conditions to a boat adrift off Rosses Point

Several calls were made to the Irish Coast Guard by concerned members of the public.

At the time of launching, it was unclear whether there was anyone onboard. On arrival at the scene the crew assessed the situation and observed that the boat was adrift but no one was onboard. To avoid a navigational hazard, a decision was made that the safest option was to tow the vessel to the nearest safe harbour. One crew member was transferred on to the vessel to help steer while the lifeboat towed the boat safely into the marina in Sligo Town.

Speaking after the call out, Daryl Ewing, Sligo Bay RNLI Helm said: ‘Conditions were challenging today with the wind hitting gale force at times causing a lot of spray and white water and approximately a one metre of swell. We pulled alongside to check but thankfully no one was onboard. As the boat was posing a risk to safe navigation for other boats, we took her under tow into safe berthing in Sligo town. We would like to thank the members of the public who raised the alarm this morning, that is always the right thing to do.

'With the poor weather we are encountering at the minute, we would encourage boat owners with vessels in the water to do a check if it is safe to do so and ensure their boat is secure.'

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RNLI Media Contact

For more information, please contact Aisling Gillen, Sligo Bay RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer at [email protected]

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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.

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