Portaferry RNLI crew rescue two from yacht aground on Rock Angus
- Robert Stone
- 11 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Sunday 16 August 2026
Two people have been rescued after their yacht ran aground on Rock Angus at the mouth of Strangford Lough.
Portaferry RNLI volunteers were alerted at 4.11pm on Saturday afternoon, 15 August, after Belfast Coastguard received a Mayday call from the yacht, which had two people onboard.
Eight Portaferry RNLI volunteers responded to their pagers, with the Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Blue Peter V launching under the helm of Oliver Rogers. He was accompanied by volunteer crew members James O'Neill, Molly Crowe and Paul Regan.
Conditions at the time were relatively benign, with a Force 3 gentle north-easterly breeze, cloudy skies, good visibility and a smooth sea. But at the mouth of Strangford Lough, where tidal streams can run swiftly, the situation required a cautious approach.
When the lifeboat arrived on scene, the yacht was found hard aground on rocks with the tide dropping. The crew established contact with those onboard and confirmed that both were well.
With the immediate danger contained, the lifeboat crew carefully brought both people aboard Blue Peter V and returned them safely to Portaferry Marina, where they were handed into the care of Portaferry Coastguard.
Speaking after the call-out, Portaferry RNLI volunteer helm Oliver Rogers said that a Mayday call should always be treated as a serious indication of danger.
“A Mayday call is the most serious distress call used at sea and indicates a sailor in imminent danger. The crew of the casualty vessel did the correct thing by calling for help as soon as they got into difficulty.”
Rogers said the changing conditions around the mouth of Strangford Lough meant that, once the casualties were known to be safe, the lifeboat crew could concentrate on making a controlled recovery.
“The waters at the mouth of Strangford Lough are fast moving and unpredictable and once we knew the crew were no longer in immediate danger, we could take our time and make safe passage to where we could get both casualties onto the lifeboat,” he said.
He urged anyone going afloat to prepare carefully before leaving shore, particularly by checking the weather and tides.
“We urge anyone heading out on the water to check weather and tide times before setting off. Wear a suitable flotation device for your activity and always carry a means of calling for help.
“If you get into difficulty or see someone else in trouble, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.”
The call-out also marked an important milestone for Portaferry RNLI volunteer Paul Regan, who was attending his first service since passing out as inshore lifeboat crew.
Portaferry RNLI congratulates Paul on completing his training and joining the operational crew.
