Dún Laoghaire RNLI rescue sailors after yacht gets into difficulty

Wednesday 30 July 2025

Dún Laoghaire RNLI came to the aid of sailors this afternoon (Wednesday 30 July) after their 15m yacht got into difficulty outside Dún Laoghaire Harbour and began to drift.

RNLI Dún Laoghaire assisting 15m disabled vessel . Photo Credit: RNLI/Ollie O'Shea

The volunteer lifeboat crew were requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat Anna Livia just before lunchtime, following a request from the Coast Guard to assess the situation, in which a vessel's engine had broken down and the craft was drifting.

The lifeboat launched at 1.07pm under Coxswain Gerald Sharkey with six crew members onboard.

Weather conditions at the time were described as calm but Dún Laoghaire Harbour was busy with small craft.

Once on scene, the lifeboat crew noted that the sailors were safe and well, but as the vessel couldn't make any safe onward progress, it was beginning to drift and pose a risk of entering a shipping lane. A decision was made to transfer a crew member aboard the vessel to help set up a tow and then to bring the vessel to the nearest safe port at Dún Laoghaire Marina.

Speaking following the call out, Dún Laoghaire RNLI Coxswain Gerald Sharkey said: "The skipper made the right decision this afternoon to call for help when they knew they were in difficulty, and we were happy to assist and remove the danger posed should the vessel drift any further.

'We would encourage anyone planning a trip to sea to go prepared. Check weather and tides, and check your engine and equipment. Always wear a lifejacket and always carry a means of communication should you need it in an emergency. If you get into trouble or see someone else in difficulty, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.'

The crew on today's call out included Coxswain Gerald Sharkey, mechanic Kieran O’Connell, Nathan Burke, Simon Wall, Gary Hayes, Miguel Walker, and Dan Philips. James Kennedy, Ollie O’Shea and Lorcan Kane were shore crew.