Arklow and Rosslare Harbour RNLI Aid Stricken Vessel in Early Morning Rescue
- Pat Nolan
- 11 hours ago
- 2 min read
Friday 1 May 2026
In the early hours of Wednesday morning, 29 April, volunteer lifeboat crews from both Arklow and Rosslare Harbour answered an urgent call for help after a 24-foot yacht got into difficulty off the Wicklow coast.
The alarm was raised when the two sailors onboard the vessel experienced mechanical failure, leaving them without power approximately 15 miles south of Arklow. Unable to make safe progress, the crew contacted emergency services requesting immediate assistance.
Given the yacht’s location, the Irish Coast Guard tasked Rosslare Harbour RNLI to respond. Their all-weather lifeboat launched shortly before 2am under the command of Coxswain Eamon O’Rourke. He was joined by mechanic Keith Morris, navigator Micheal Ferguson, and crew members Stephen Breen, Paul McCormack, and Helena Leonard.
Despite the darkness, conditions at sea were relatively calm, with light winds and clear visibility aiding the rescue effort. The Rosslare crew arrived on scene first and quickly assessed the situation. While the two sailors were found to be safe and uninjured, their yacht was unable to continue due to the loss of power.
With no immediate way for the vessel to proceed safely, the crew made the decision to establish a tow. The yacht was secured and carefully guided northwards toward safer waters, with Arklow Harbour identified as the most suitable destination given the prevailing north-westerly wind.
As the tow operation progressed, Arklow RNLI was launched at 3.10am to assist. Commanded by Coxswain Brendan Dillon, the Arklow lifeboat crew included mechanic Jim Russell, navigator Josh McAnaspie, and crew members Craig O’Reilly, Dave Molloy, and John Tyrrell.
The two lifeboats rendezvoused at sea, where the tow was safely transferred to the Arklow crew. From there, the yacht was brought steadily into harbour, arriving at the marina at approximately 6.15am.
Speaking after the call out, Arklow RNLI Coxswain Brendan Dillon said: ‘We were happy to bring the sailors to safety this morning and would like to wish them well. We would also like to thank our colleagues from Rosslare for the great team work this morning and indeed commend them and all our volunteers who got out of their beds and responded to this call out in the hours of darkness.
‘As we approach the Bank Holiday weekend we would encourage any planning a trip to always go prepared. Boat owners are strongly advised to carry out essential pre‑launch checks, including the condition of the hull, engine, fuel system, steering, batteries, and onboard safety equipment such as fire extinguishers and communication devices.’
