RNLI lifeboat crew assist four people on cruiser on Lough Derg
<b>On Thursday September 10th, Valentia Coast Guardrequested Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat <i>Jean Spier </i>toassist four people on a 36ft cruiser aground in YoughalBay on the south-eastern shore of Lough Derg </b> <strong> </strong><strong> </strong> At 5.08pm the lifeboat launched with helm Owen Cavanagh, SteveSmyth and Keith Brennan on board. Visibility was poor with frequentsqually showers. Winds were southwesterly, Force3/4. <b> </b> The casualty vessel was located on the north-eastern shore ofYoughal Bay, an area known to be particularly peppered with rocksand sudden shallows.<br><br>The RNLI lifeboat volunteers took soundings close to the locationof the casualty vessel and carried out an anchoring and veeringdown manoeuvre to the cruiser. The lifeboat was alongside at5.19pm. All four passengers were found to be safe and unharmed andwearing their lifejackets.<br><br>An RNLI crew member transferred to the casualty vessel, and oncesatisfied that the vessel was not holed set up for a tow. At 5.46pmthe lifeboat had the casualty vessel off the rocks and out intosafe water, where drives and rudder were found to be in goodworking order.<br><br>The lifeboat accompanied the cruiser with her passengers and anRNLI crew member on board to Dromineer Harbour where the vessel wassafely tied alongside at 6.13pm.<br><br>The lifeboat was back at station at 6.20pm Peter Kennedy, Deputy Launching Authority at Lough DergRNLI advises boat users to "enjoy Lough Derg, and remember, studyyour charts and stay on the navigations route".
