RNLI assists 38ft yacht & crew off Gorumna Island, Galway.

Aran Islands RNLI has come to the aid of two sailors this morning after their 38ft yacht got into difficulties off Gorumna Island in County Galway.

The volunteer crew were requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat at 7.27am (Thursday 27 June) by the Irish Coast Guard and asked to assist a yacht with two people onboard that had run into difficulties.

The Aran Islands RNLI lifeboat David Kirkaldy launched under Coxswain Tommy Dirrane with a full crew and headed straight for the 38ft yacht that had got tangled in lobster pots off Gorumna Island in the North Sound.

Weather conditions were choppy with moderate seas and a 1.5m swell and an east to north easterly wind.

Once lifeboat crew established contact with the two people aboard the yacht, and found that a local fisherman in the area had freed the yacht from the tangled lobster pots.

The lifeboat then escorted the yacht, which was under sail, as far as the mouth of Kilronan Harbour where a tow line between the lifeboat and yacht was established as it was having steering issues. The lifeboat guided the yacht alongside the pier in Kilronan Harbour.

Speaking after the call out, Aran Islands RNLI Coxswain Tommy Dirrane said: ‘Thankfully, this was a good outcome to what could have been a different situation and we would like to commend the local fisherman who also helped.

‘As we enjoy the good weather and the summer months ahead, we would like to remind anyone planning a trip to sea to always respect the water. Always wear a lifejacket, always carry a means of communication, and always let someone ashore know where you are going and when you are due back. Should you get into difficulty or see someone else in trouble call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.’