Clifden Life Boat

2008

Tuesday 30th December

The Coast Guard tasked the Atlantic 75 to go to the assistance of the 36 ft yacht which had broken from its mooring in Streamstown bay and had drifted onto the rocks. The yacht was secured as best it could and protected, again as best it could, from any further damage from the rocks. The owner of the yacht was brought ashore by the Atlantic 75 and the tender to the yacht was towed ashore by the D-Class.

The Atlantic 75 subsequently returned that evening to help re-float the yacht and tow it back to its moori ng where it was successfuly secured.

Saturday 13th December

A 42 ft fishing vessel Banrion na dTonn was en-route from Killybegs to Rossaveal in Connemara when it was reported as overdue. Clifden's Atlantic 75 Lifeboat Benjamin Downing Fairbridge joined in an extensive search co-ordinated by the Irish Coast Guard. The vessel was eventually spotted by a Spanish Fishing vessel way off course west off Slyne Head - it had suffered from engine failure and had drifted some considerable distance before the problem could be rectified. The vessel was by then back under power and was able to make its own way back to port. The Atlantic Lifeboat was consequently stood down and returned to base, the crew extremely cold and hungry after over three hours of searching in freezing weather and rough seas.

Tuesday 23 September

The Lifeboat crew were requested to help in the search for a possible missing person. The crew searched the river at Waterloo and also that in the Inagh valley, as the person had been reported as being seen in both locations. The search was eventually called off due to failing light and was not resumed the following day as it was then thought the person was not, in fact, missing.

Saturday 20th September
Both the Atlantic 75 and the D-Class were tasked by the Coast Guard to go to the assistance of a vessel in difficulty south of Slyne Head. The D-Class preceded by road to launch near to Bunowen but, on launching, was stood down by the Coast Guard as another vessel had accompanied the casualty and ensured it was safely moored alongside Bunowen pier. The Atlantic was also stood down as it was about to round Slyne Head.

Sunday 17th August

While on exercise in Clifden Bay the Atlantic 75, Benjamin Downing Fairbridge, along with the D-Class, Grainne Uaile, were tasked to go to the assistance of a diver lost off Inishbarna at the mouth of Killary Harbour. The diver had lost his buddies while ascending from a dive. On reaching the surface he swam ashore to Inishbarna where he was subsequently spotted by the passenger vessel Connemara Lady and taken off the rocks and returned safely to shore by Clifden's D-Class lifeboat. Although somewhat cold, the diver was otherwise unhurt. Later the same day, the Atlantic was tasked by the Coast Guard to go to the assistance of a woman injured while mooring a yacht in Inishbofin Harbour. The crew of the Atlantic, which included a paramedic, proceeded to Inishbofin where medical assistance was given and the lady was made comfortable. A decision was taken to try and take her ashore on the Atlantic but this was aborted shortly after leaving Inishbofin Harbour as the journey was deemed to be too rough and the lady was in considerable pain. The island District Nurse administered pain killer to ease the pain when the Atlantic returned to Bofin. The passenger ferry Island Discovery was fortuitously about to leave Bofin for Cleggan so the lady was taken aboard the ferry and a lifeboat crew member (paramedic) escorted her back to the mainland where an ambulance was waiting to take her to hospital.
It appears the lady broke or dislocated her elbow while the yacht was attempting to moor alongside another boat in Inishbofin harbour.

Saturday 16th August

The Atlantic 75, Benjamin Downing Fairbridge, was tasked to go the assistance of a power boat MAC II seen to be dragging its mooring in Clifden Bay. The vessel was taken in tow to Clifden Pier where it was secured. The Atlantic was then immediately tasked , as was the D-Class Grainne Uaile, to go to the assistance of a boat which was dragging its anchor and was on the rocks in Streamstown Bay. The owner of the boat had, in the meantime, successfully pushed the boat back off the rocks, boarded it and managed to start the engine. He was then able to motor to a different, more protected part of the bay and leave it on anchor. Both boats were stood down before arriving on the scene. While the Atlantic was returning to Station, the power boat MAXIM was seen to be swamped and sinking while on its mooring. The boat was taken in tow to Clifden Pier where it was also secured.

Tuesday 12th August

A 38' yacht, Tomboy, got into difficulty in Inishbofin Harbour when its anchor became entangled with an obstruction on the sea bed. They called Malin Head Coast Guard who in turn tasked the Atlantic 75, Benjamin Dowing Fairbridge, to go to their assistance. The weather en route was particular nasty with strong north westerly winds and very poor visibility. On arriving on the scene, the Atlantic helped the crew of the yacht detach itself from its anchor, leaving a marker buoy so the anchor could be retrieved subsequently, and escorted the yacht to a safe mooring alongside Inishbofin pier.

Saturday 9th August

A member of the public noticed the sailing yacht, Suimhneas, was drifting away from its mooring towards a lee shore shore off Faul Point. The Atlantic 75, Benjamin Downing Fairbridge, was tasked to go to its assistance as it was unsure whether anyone was aboard, and the yacht was about to ground. The D-Class, Grainne Uaile, was asked to assist due to the yacht being in very shallow water, close to rocks. Crew of the D-Class boarded the yacht, attached a tow line to the stern, and the Atlantic was then able to tow the yacht to open water and re-attach it to its mooring.

Sunday 3rd August

A couple of teenagers were left adrift in Mannin Bay when the engine to their inflatable failed. The alarm was raised by a member of the public and the Atlantic 75, Benjamin Downing Fairbridge, was tasked to go to their assistance. After a short search, the two boys were found and escorted safely back to shore.

Friday 1st August

A 28 ft sailing yacht, White Shark, had broken its moorings overnight off Clifden Boat Club and had drifted onto rocks across the bay off Errislannon. A member of the public raised the alarm and, as it was unclear whether anyone was aboard the yacht, the Coast Guard tasked the Clifden Lifeboats to go to its assistance. Both the Atlantic 75, Benjamin Downing Fairbridge, and the D-Class, Grainne Uaile, were involved in pulling the yacht off the rocks and returning it safely to a secure mooring off the Boat Club. No-one was aboard the yacht.

Sunday 22nd June

A yacht attending WIORA 2008 dragged its mooring as a result of adverse overnight conditions and collided with another boat. Both were holed. The yacht in question, Saber, was towed to a safe mooring across the bay by the D-Class Grainne Uaile whilst the mooring of the other boat, Burberry, was checked and secured. All other boats in the bay were then each checked with regard to whether anyone was sleeping on board and each boat was checked with regard to the state of its mooring.

Saturday 21st June

The Atlantic 75 Holme Team IV was tasked by the WIORA Committe boat to escort the yacht "Rooster" back to the safety of its mooring as it was having difficulty motoring against the prevailing conditions having successfully completed the second race of the day. The D-Class Grainne Uaile assisted the Atlantic 75, acting as the "messenger" between the two boats. Subsequently the Atlantic 75 was requested by the yacht "Misty" to escort it back to calmer waters as it was also having difficulty motoring against the prevailing conditions, having successfully completed its second WIORA race of the day.

Friday 19th June

A 33' yacht, "That's Life", with 9 persons on board was dismasted off High Island whilst competing in WIORA 2008. Initially there were also problems with the auxilliary engine but these were subsequently resolved by the crew. The Atlantic 75 Holme Team IV was nevertheless tasked by the Coast Guard to escort the yacht back to its mooring off Clifden Boat Club.

Wednesday 23rd April
The Atlantic 75 Benjamin Dowing Fairbridge, having just returned from a navigational exercise to Killary Harbour, was tasked by another member of the Lifeboat crew to go to the assistance of a 7m RIB with three persons on board which was seen to be in difficulty in the middle of Clifden Bay, off the Boat Club. Crewman Thomas Davis had to enter the water to attach a tow to the stricken vessel as the eye for the tow-line on the RIB was below water level. The RIB was then successfully towed back and secured to Clifden Quay.

Monday 28th January

While out on night exercise, the D-Class lifeboat Grainne Uaile was made aware of a local fishing vessel whose fishing gear had become entangled in the rudder thereby disabling its ability to steer and also rendering it without power. The vessel was taken under tow (astern) and towed to Clifden Quay where it was positioned alongside the pier wall. With the vessel safely secured, the lifeboat resumed its night exercise.