Wicklow RNLI rescues sailing vessel after it loses manoeuvrability off Wicklow coast
Sunday 20 September 2026
Wicklow RNLI volunteers brought one person to safety in the early hours of Saturday morning after a 40ft sailing vessel lost all manoeuvrability 11 miles north-east of Wicklow Harbour.
The volunteer crew were requested to launch by the Irish Coast Guard following a report that the sailing vessel was drifting without power or steerage and was in close proximity to busy shipping lanes.
The volunteer pagers sounded at 11.00pm on Friday night, 18 September, and the all-weather lifeboat RNLB Bridie O’Shea slipped her moorings at 11.10pm under the command of Coxswain Nicky Keogh.
The lifeboat crew located the casualty vessel approximately 40 minutes after launching.
Conditions at the scene were challenging, with winds from a south-westerly direction at Force 6 to 7, moderate seas and good visibility.
With the skipper of the sailing vessel unable to make any way and the boat drifting close to shipping lanes, Coxswain Keogh assessed that the safest option was to establish a tow and bring the casualty vessel to the nearest safe port.
The Wicklow RNLI crew successfully took the vessel under tow and brought it safely back to Wicklow Harbour, where it was secured alongside the east pier at 2.50am.
Speaking following the callout, Coxswain Nicky Keogh said the skipper had taken the correct decision in seeking assistance at an early stage.
“This was a late-night callout in difficult conditions. The skipper of the casualty vessel did the correct thing in requesting assistance early.
“I’d like to remind anyone going on the water in this good weather to have a suitable means of calling for assistance.
“If you see anyone in trouble on the water, please call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.”
The successful operation once again highlighted the commitment of Wicklow RNLI’s volunteer crew, who responded to the late-night pager alert and launched in challenging conditions to assist the sailor and bring the vessel safely back to harbour.
