The Lough Derg lifeboat came to the aid of a stranded boat with fouled propellers on the lake over the weekend.
On Saturday, March 30 Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat ‘Jean Spier’ to assist a lone sailor on a 35ft cruiser with fouled propellers and adrift in Dromineer Bay.
The lifeboat, with helm Owen Cavanagh and crew Doireann Kennedy, Tom Hayes and Ania Skrzypczynska-Tucker on board, launched at 5:28pm. Winds were south-easterly, Force 3 with good visibility.
At 5.42pm the lifeboat was alongside the casualty vessel. The skipper was safe and well and wearing a lifejacket.
The skipper explained that as the wind had dropped they were unable to sail home, and a line overboard had fouled their propellers so they couldn’t motor back to harbour.
Given the location on the navigation channel, and the hour, the helm decided the safest course of action was to assist the casualty vessel back to the nearest safe harbour.
At 6:02pm the casualty vessel was secured alongside in Dromineer Harbour. The lifeboat departed the scene and was back at the Station by 6:10pm.
Peter Kennedy, Launching Authority at Lough Derg RNLI advises boat users to, “stow lines carefully and always make sure someone on the shore knows where you are going and who to call if you don’t return on time”.
