Record of Services

Callout on Tuesday November 27th 2007

A local fishing vessel, with two people on board, got into trouble at the mouth of Clifden Bay when its hydraulics became entangled with the steering mechanism. The D-Class Lifeboat, Grainne Uaile, was tasked to go to the assistance of the vessel and, with one of the RNLI crew on board, the vessel was successfully towed into Clifden Harbour. The D-Class then returned to its launch site to be
recovered and returned to Station.

Sunday/Monday 30th September/1st October

Clifden Lifeboat Station was tasked to help with the search for a missing diver off Inishbarna,
Killary Bay. The casualty was located after approximately 24 hours by a diver from Galway Sub-
Aqua Club, about 50 metres from where he was last seen. The body was recovered to the Atlantic
75 and and landed discretely at a nearby Location.

The new D-Class Lifeboat, Gráinne Uaile, was called to an incident in Clifden Bay while on exercise being commissioned. A RIB, with two persons on board, had run out of fuel and was drifting. The RIB was taken in tow and it, along with the two people, were returned safely to shore at Clifden Boat Club.

Monday 20th August

At 11:58am on 20th August 2007 Malin Head Coast Guard set of the pagers.

A 36 ft yacht Sanctoir, based in Galway, was en route from Inishbofin to Galway via the Aran Islands.

Weather conditions were rough with a northerly force 6 or 7 and a heavy swell of over 4 metres. The yacht was suitably reefed but while off to the North West of Slyne Head the yacht jibed and the main sail was badly torn and rendered useless. The engine subsequently failed due to what is believed to be air getting into the fuel system. The yacht then started to drift easterly at about 3-5 knots towards rocks to the north of Slyne Head.

The skipper took prompt action and issued a Mayday call which was picked up by Malin Head Coast Guard.

The Atlantic was launched and proceeded through very heavy weather to locate the yacht within "5 minutes of it running onto the rocks" off Carricknaguroge, north east of Slyne Head.

The yacht was taken in tow and brought back through the swell to Clifden Bay where it was safely secured to a mooring buoy off the Clifden Boat Club. The Aran Islands Lifeboat was asked to escort the Atlantic back to Clifden as the tow was extremely difficult and dangerous given the prevailing sea state.

Comment from Clifden Lifeboat’s Operations Manager, Peter Bailey

Again, in the span of two weeks, two lives have been saved not only by the skill and professionalism of the RNLI crew but also by the prompt action of the crew in question, in this case by raising a Mayday earlier rather than later.

Thanks to the crew - Bernard Whelan at the Helm with Dave Barry and Alan Pryce as crew, to the drivers - David Griffin and John B Mannion, and to the shore help - James Mullen, Robert King, Joe Acton, Thomas Davis and Kenny Flaherty

A RIB with 4 people on board was damaged when it hit an underwater rock which took the skeg off the outboard motor, thus disabling the boat which then drifted onto rocks near Renvyle Point.

The D-Class was launched from Ross Beach and after 10 minutes located the damaged RIB with the four people stranded on the rocks. It took the RIB in tow with one of the D-Class crew on board. After transferring the four people to the Atlantic 75 which was standing by, it then towed the RIB to Derryinver Pier and subsequently returned to station. The Atlantic 75 took the four people to Derryinver Pier.

Malin Head launched the Atlantic 75 in response to an EPIRB from a Fishing Vessel out of Galway, approximately 15 miles west of Slyne Head. Achill Island Lifeboat and Shannon Helicopter were also tasked.

At 13:41pm on 14th August 2007 Malin Head Coast Guard set of the pagers.

Malin Head Coast Guard was tasked by Cleggan Coast Guard to launch the Clifden Lifeboat to come to the assistance of two people on Inis Fregillaun, west of Crump Island off Renvyle Point. Four of their friends, two men and two women, had already paddled to the mainland in a (two person) canoe, bailing constantly in adverse conditions, and had reported that two of their colleagues were still on the Island, and were thinking of attempting to swim to the mainland. Both Lifeboats were launched, the D-Class went by road and the Atlantic 75 by sea. The D-Class (first on the scene) initially assisted a wind-surfer who appeared to be in difficulty and then picked up the two stranded men and returned them to the mainland. Malin Head Coast Guard commented that "it was great that Clifden Station had two lifeboats at its disposal, one of which could go by road. That was the one to arrive first and the lads did a great job". Last year a life was lost off Renvyle point when a swimmer failed to return, and had the two people attempted to swim to the mainland the outcome may have been the same. Cleggan Coast Guard commented that there is a tidal stream of up to 6 knots between Fregillaun and the mainland.

A dingy with two people on board was taking in water and sinking in Mannin Bay, south of Clifden. Within 6 minutes the Atlantic 75 Inshore Lifeboat was launched and a further 10 minutes saw it alongside the stricken vessel, approx 1½ miles from the nearest coast. David Barry was at the helm with Alan Pryce and Robert King as crew. Conditions were a little choppy but visibility was good. The two male casualties, who were both wearing life jackets, had the good sense to stay with the boat and were therefore easily spotted. They were both hauled into the Atlantic 75 and returned safely to shore. Both were well and suffering no ill effects. The D-Class Inshore Lifeboat, with Joe Acton at the helm John Mullen and Dan Whelan as crew, had meanwhile also been launched in case the casualties had been separated from their up-turned dingy and were in the water. When the Atlantic 75 had located the casualties and confirmed all were accounted for, the D-Class was stood down and returned to station. Having returned both casualties safely to shore, the Atlantic 75 then located the capsized dingy and towed it back to land. The Atlantic 75 then itself returned to station.

Two lives were saved not only by the skill and professionalism of the RNLI crew but also by the fact that the two dingy sailors had the good sense to wear life jackets and to stay with the stricken vessel. Staying with the vessel enabled them to be located quickly, saving valuable minutes. Thanks to all the crew of course, but also to Frank Acton, James Mullen Damien Manning and Cathal Joyce for invaluable shore help. Others were there to help as well, thanks to you all.

Clifden Lifeboat was tasked to go to the assistance of a motor vessel in Clifden Bay which had broken down and was adrift. No launch necessary though as the vessel was taken under tow by another boat.

Clifden Lifeboat was tasked to go to the aid of two swimmers reported to be in difficulty off Renvyle Point. On arrival at the scene, the swimmers had been successfully recovered by another craft.

We were called to the Lifeboat Station following the sighting of a body in the water off Clifden Quay. The Guards, Fire Brigade and Ambulance were already in attendance. The D-Class lifeboat was launched at the pier slipway and was walked (15" water) to the casualty. The body was lifted into the D-Class which was then taken around a bend in the river where the body was handed over to Guards and Emergency Medical Teams.

Several of the yachts attending the WIORA (West of Ireland Offshore Racing Association) regatta in Clifden started dragging their anchors and many crew were in tenders going to/from their yachts to ensure they were secure. The sea conditions were very rough for such activity. Further, a number of boats were shifting their position and had to be made secure by RNLI personnel as relevant crew were not present.

Two people had been left stranded on Fox Island, Ballyconnelly Bay, due to their vessel not being secured and consequently floating out to sea. The vessel was recovered and returned to the people on Fox Island.

After launching the Atlantic 75 on routine exercise we were asked if we were in a position to assist a vessel in difficulty north of Friar Island. “Western Kingfisher”
was already on the way to the scene.

We immediately departed en route to the site in question. On arrival the casualty was attached by line to “Western Kingfisher” who was keeping her away from the lee shore. The casualty requested a tow to Cleggan, which we did. One person was put aboard the casualty to secure the tow. A second person on the B724 controlled the towline. Contact was maintained by handheld VHF.

On arrival in Cleggan the boat was secured to shore and we returned to station.