Skerries RNLI volunteers assist yacht fouled on fishing gear off Rush
- Pat Nolan
- 6 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Thursday 7 May 2026
Volunteer crew members from the RNLI in Skerries were requested to launch after a yacht became entangled in fishing gear off the north Dublin coast.
Shortly before 2pm on Thursday 7 May, Dublin Coast Guard tasked the Skerries RNLI crew following a distress call from a yacht located approximately one mile east of Rush Harbour. The vessel had become fouled on fishing gear and was unable to manoeuvre safely.
The volunteers launched the Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Louis Simson and made their way around the Skerries headland and islands before proceeding towards the casualty’s reported position.
As the lifeboat approached the scene, crew members quickly identified the stricken yacht. The RNLI volunteers brought the lifeboat alongside in order to assess the situation and speak with the sailor on board.
There was one person aboard the yacht and, as suspected, the vessel’s rudder had become entangled in a length of rope from a lobster pot.
The volunteer crew successfully freed the line from underneath the yacht, allowing the sailor to carry out checks on the vessel’s steering and running gear. After inspecting the yacht, the sailor confirmed that no damage appeared to have been caused and opted to continue his journey to Howth under his own power.
Following the incident, the lifeboat returned to station in Skerries where it was recovered to the boathouse and prepared for its next service.
Weather conditions at the time were described as force three to four southerly winds with a slight sea swell and good visibility.
The latest callout follows two other recent launches for the Skerries RNLI volunteers.
On the afternoon of Saturday 25 April, the lifeboat launched after a member of the public reported that a person was stranded on Shenick Island and attempting to swim to shore. On arrival, the volunteer crew established that the individual was undertaking a long-distance swim, was properly equipped and not in difficulty. However, the swimmer accepted an offer of transport back to shore.
In another incident, shortly after 8pm on Wednesday 29 April, the lifeboat was tasked following a 999 call reporting that a windsurfer was in difficulty off the south beach in Rush. While the crew was making its way to the scene, the windsurfer managed to return safely to shore and the lifeboat was subsequently stood down.
