Lifeboat in action

On Monday afternoon, Lough Derg RNLI was called out to assist two adults on a 30ft cruiser in difficulty. The vessel was reported to be inside Youghal Bay, off Garrykennedy, on the eastern shore of Lough Derg. Winds were westerly, Force 4, gusting 5, with frequent heavy squalls while visibility was good.

The lifeboat launched at 2.10pm with helm Eleanor Hooker, Ger Egan and Edel Knight on board and the team located the casualty vessel soon after. Both adults on board were safe and unharmed and were wearing their lifejackets, they had dropped anchor to prevent drift. One of RNLI volunteers, a marine engineer, found that the vessel had an electrical fault and prepared the cruiser for tow, he weighed anchor and the lifeboat took the cruiser under tow to Garrykennedy Harbour, where it was safely tied alongside.

The lifeboat returned to station and was ready for service again at 4pm. Ger Egan, volunteer helm at Lough Derg RNLI, says the "given the changeable conditions on the lake today, the skipper did the correct thing to drop anchor and immediately call for help."