Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat launched yesterday evening to assist five people, on board a 40–ft cruiser hard aground, east of Illaunmor on Lough Derg
At 7.25pm, September 16, Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat launched following a request from Valentia Coast Guard to assist 5 people on board a 40ft cruiser that had grounded on a rocky shelf, east of Illaunmor. Winds were westerly, Force 2/3 gusting, visibility was very good but with nightfall imminent.
At 7.38pm, the lifeboat launched with helm Eleanor Hooker, Robbie Garland and Dom Sharkey on board. The lifeboat located the cruiser at 7.43pm, behind Illaunmor and in an area with many rocky shoals. The five people on board were safe and unharmed, and all wearing their lifejackets. Mr. Tierney, from Illaunmor, an experienced boatman, had launched his lakeboat and was on standby when the lifeboat arrived on scene.
The lifeboat transferred a crew member across who checked that the boat was not holed. The cruiser was found to be hard aground, and after two attempts to get the cruiser off the rocks were unproductive, the five persons on board were transferred to Mr. Tierney's lake boat to reduce the weight on the cruiser. The cruiser was then taken off the shoal and out to safe water. Following another thorough check of drives and propellors, the five crew were returned to their boat and Mr. Tierney returned to the island.
With an RNLI crew member remaining on board, the lifeboat accompanied the cruiser to Dromineer, where it was safely tied up alongside in the public harbour at 9.20pm. As the hour was late and none of the five people on board had had supper, the lifeboat had radioed ahead and the Whiskey Still public house in Dromineer village, kept their kitchen open to provide an evening meal for the five on board.
Peter Kennedy, Deputy Launching Authority for Lough Derg RNLI, advises boat users to ‘enjoy boating on the lake, and to be sure to study your charts and plan your passage before departure'.
The Lifeboat returned to station and was ready for service again at 9.45pm.
