Donaghadee RNLI launch twice within 48 hours to assist sailors

Monday 2 June 2025

Donaghadee RNLI's volunteers were paged twice over the weekend to assist the crew of two yachts in difficulty.

The initial call was on Saturday evening (31 May) at 6.35pm when the crew were requested by HM Coastguard to launch to the aid of a 36ft yacht in difficulty near the Briggs Buoy at Orlock Point. While en route to this yacht they were requested to divert by the Coastguard due to a priority Pan Pan request from the crew of another yacht east of Donaghadee. Bangor RNLI subsequently responded to the initial call.

The second yacht which was approximately 26ft with one sailor and a parrot onboard, was en route to the Isle of Man. It was reported that the yacht had lost the main engine and was struggling in the conditions. In good visibility with a slight to moderate sea state, the crew onboard the all-weather lifeboat MacQuarie made best speed and were on scene within 10 minutes.

Due to the evening drawing in and the freshening sea state and the condition of the vessel, it was determined by Coxswain Philip McNamara, that the best course of action was to secure a tow line to the vessel and return it to the safety of Bangor Harbour. Once closer to the harbour, crew member Chris Stewart boarded the yacht and assisted the skipper in securing an alongside tow and when securely in the harbour. the sailor was passed into the care of the Coastguard Rescue Team. The lifeboat returned to Donaghadee Harbour by 9pm and was made ready for its next call out.

The second service of the weekend occurred in the early morning hours of this morning (Monday, 2 June). The volunteer crew were alerted at 3.50am and they swiftly assembled at the lifeboat station were they were notified by Gerry Watts, Launch Authority on duty, that they were requested to launch to a 38ft yacht with two people onboard, 10 miles north of the Mew Island.

With good visibility, a moderate sea and light winds, the lifeboat was on scene with the casualty within about 35 minutes. The yacht was not making any headway and the skipper and crew member who were en route to Bangor when they lost power, were tired but alert and well. The decision was taken by the Coxswain again to secure a towline and assist the vessel into the safety of Bangor Harbour and the Coastguard Rescue Team. The lifeboat was returned to Donaghadee Harbour by 7am and made ready for it’s next call out.

Speaking following the call outs, Donaghadee RNLI Coxswain Philip McNamara said: ‘On both occasions the skippers of these yachts requested assistance as soon as they realised they were in difficulty and before the situation worsened, which was the correct thing to do. As always we recommend sailors to check vessels including checking their engines and equipment prior to going to sea, to wear lifejackets at all times and have a working means of communicating. In the event of getting into difficulty or seeing someone else in trouble, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard. I extend my thanks as always to the volunteer crew who responded to these emergencies’

All Weather Lifeboat MacQuarie. Credit: RNLI/Margaret Ramm