08/07/2016

Four People Rescued From Yacht Off Antrim Coast

Four people have been rescued after the yacht they were travelling in got into difficulty off the Antrim coast.

Belfast Coastguard asked Larne RNLI to launch both their all-weather and inshore lifeboats after it was reported that a large yacht had sustained engine failure a mile north east of Muck Island at around 6.30pm on Thursday, 07 July.

At the scene one of the four people onboard was suffering from sea sickness.

Crew members tended to the person who was sick while the all-weather lifeboat crew prepared the yacht for towing.

As soon as a towline was established, the all-weather lifeboat began the passage to Carrick Marina.

Philip Ford-Hutchinson, Larne RNLI Deputy Launching Authority said: "This call out was a great example of both our inshore and all-weather lifeboats working well together to assist the four people onboard the casualty vessel. The inshore lifeboat crew members were able to administer casualty care to the person who was seasick before assisting the all-weather crew with setting up a tow and then helping to manoeuvre the yacht in the tight confines of Carrick Marina. Our volunteer crew regularly train for scenarios like this and those skills and training were put to good use last night."

(CD/MH)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

03 September 2013
L'Derry Crew Begin World Yacht Race
The Derry-Londonderry-Doire entry in the world's longest ocean yacht race has been waved off from the banks of the Thames in London by a crowd of over 120,000 well-wishers.
03 March 2006
Duke of Edinburgh visits NI to celebrate 50th year of awards
The Duke of Edinburgh has today attended a special reception at Hillsborough Castle to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme.
24 April 2019
RNLI Rescues Yacht After Crew Fall Ill On Journey To Belfast
The RNLI's Red Bay lifeboats were launched early this morning when a yacht travelling to Belfast got into difficulty when its crew fell ill. The 28ft yacht was on passage from Oban in Scotland and experienced challenging sea conditions, causing the five-person crew to be unable to safely command the vessel.
16 August 2011
Crew Rescued As Fastnet Yacht Capsizes
Twenty-one crew members have been plucked from a yacht that capsized off the Irish coast. The US-registered Rambler 100, which was taking part in the Fastnet Race, overturned nearly 16 miles from Baltimore in County Cork, around 6.30pm on Monday.
03 August 2004
Four rescued from sinking yacht
Four people have been rescued from a sinking yacht, which was en route from Belfast to Iceland before running into difficulties in the North Atlantic. The crew of The Spirit were 200 miles away from the Scottish island of Lewis, when the craft was hit by a wave which fractured the hull and caused the boat to take on water.