Achill Island RNLI rescues 25 people following 16-hour call out off Clare Island

Thursday 13 August 2026

Achill Island RNLI volunteers have brought 25 people to safety following a 16-hour call out after a 24-metre sailing vessel made contact with a fish farm one mile east of Clare Island, off the Mayo coast.

Achill Island RNLI lifeboat alongside the 24-metre sailing vessel after it became entangled with a fish farm off Clare Island during a 16-hour call-out. Photo: David McGloin

The Achill Island RNLI all-weather lifeboat was requested to launch at 4.30am on Wednesday 12 August following reports that the sailing vessel, with 25 people onboard, was taking on water after making contact with the fish farm.

The lifeboat launched under Coxswain Dave Curtis, with mechanic Michael Cattigan, navigator Terry Hogarth and crew members Patrick McNamara, Kevin Cattigan and Orlagh Blake-Dillon onboard. The Irish Coast Guard helicopter, Rescue 118 from Sligo, was also tasked to the incident.

On arrival at the scene, the lifeboat crew assessed the situation and, with the vessel taking on water, it was decided that the safest immediate course of action was to transfer 16 non-essential crew members from the sailing vessel.

The 16 people were safely transferred to the lifeboat and brought ashore at nearby Clare Island.

The Achill lifeboat then returned to the sailing vessel and remained on scene to monitor the situation while efforts were made to bring the incident at the fish farm under control.

Once this had been achieved, the lifeboat returned to Clare Island where the 16 crew members were transferred back onboard. They were then brought safely ashore at Achill Island.

The lifeboat subsequently returned to the sailing vessel and continued to monitor the situation until the vessel was successfully removed from the fish farm.

The Achill Island RNLI crew then escorted the sailing vessel safely back to Achill, arriving at approximately 8pm.

Speaking following the call out, Achill Island RNLI Coxswain Dave Curtis said:

“This was a lengthy call out for our volunteers commencing in the early hours of Wednesday morning and not finishing until late yesterday evening and they deserve great credit for a job well done.

“We would like to commend those on the sailing vessel, those working for the fish farm and everyone else involved yesterday including the Clare Island nurse and the community centre staff.

“Everyone worked together in challenging circumstances to help bring the crew to safety and to monitor an ongoing situation where a vessel was taking on water and needed to be freed from the farm.

“This was a time-consuming process but the efforts of all involved ensured everyone came ashore safely.”

The RNLI is reminding anyone heading to sea to check the weather and sea conditions before setting out and to always carry appropriate safety equipment.