Skerries RNLI launch to investigate distress signal

Skerries RNLI approaching the kayaker. Credit: RNLI/Gerry Canning

Saturday 7 June 2025

Skerries RNLI were tasked by Dublin Coast Guard shortly before 1pm on Saturday afternoon (7 June), to investigate an activation of a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) south west of Rockabill lighthouse.

The volunteers in Skerries entered the coordinates received from the Coast Guard into their navigation system as they launched their Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat “Louis Simson”. Once afloat they proceeded to navigate to the location indicated.

While enroute they received some additional information that a yacht has passed the area recently and was not responding to attempts to hail them on their VHF radio, this initially caused the crew to consider that they may be looking for a person who had fallen overboard.

However, while searching the area, as the crew continued to receive updated coordinates, through their local knowledge of the currents and tides in the area, they noticed that the speed and direction of the PLB’s movements, were not consistent with the drift they would have expected. As a result, they began to suspect that the device may be on board a watercraft of some description.

A few minutes later, when the latest GPS coordinates were relayed by Dublin Coast Guard, a local work boat called the lifeboat on the VHF radio to say that they had just passed that location and saw a sea kayaker heading towards Skerries.

The volunteer crew on the lifeboat soon spotted the kayaker and made their way alongside him. It quickly transpired that the SOS function on his secondary PLB had been accidentally activated. He disengaged the function and Dublin Coast Guard radio confirmed that the distress signal was no longer being received. The kayaker was happy to continue making his own way to shore and the lifeboat was stood down and returned to station.

Conditions at the time were force four westerly wind with a slight sea and fair visibility.

Speaking after the call out, volunteer lifeboat press officer for Skerries RNLI, Gerry Canning said “Thankfully this turned out be a false alarm which is still a successful outcome. This man was very experienced and incredibly well equipped for the conditions, it was just unfortunate that his PLB had caught on something and activated itself. We’d advise anyone going to sea to carry a means of contacting the shore, and PLB’s are a great idea for anyone taking part in solo activities on the water. ”