Six rescued after yacht trapped off Cushendall in seven-hour RNLI operation

Redbay RNLI launched after a 46ft yacht became trapped off Cushendall, on the Antrim coast.

Six people have been brought to safety after Red Bay RNLI volunteers spent seven hours at sea in gale-force conditions when a 46ft yacht became trapped at a fish farm off Cushendall.

The overnight Mayday operation began in the early hours of Saturday morning after the yacht, which was travelling from Oban in Scotland to Portugal, lost all power and steering after making contact with the fish farm in Red Bay.

Mayday call in 60-knot winds

Red Bay RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat was requested to launch at 3.22am after Belfast Coastguard received a Mayday from the vessel.

The yacht had become trapped after making contact with the fish farm in winds of around 60 knots.

Coxswain Paddy McLaughlin and five volunteer crew members immediately launched the all-weather lifeboat and made the short journey to the scene. Red Bay RNLI’s inshore lifeboat was also launched to assist.

Conditions throughout the operation were extremely challenging, with Force 9 gusting winds, driving rain and darkness.

Sailors remained aboard until daylight

When the lifeboat crews reached the yacht, they established that all six people onboard were safe. However, the vessel had become entangled on the fish cages and could not be freed immediately.

Given the severity of the weather and sea conditions, Mr McLaughlin decided the safest option was for the sailors to remain aboard the yacht while the lifeboat stood by until daylight at around 7.30am.

The RNLI volunteers remained at sea as the operation continued through the morning.

At 9.30am, the crew successfully freed the yacht from the fish farm and escorted the sailors safely to Glenarm.

They arrived at around 10am, where Larne Coastguard was on hand to provide assistance.

‘A challenging call out’

Speaking following the rescue, Red Bay RNLI Coxswain Paddy McLaughlin said:

“This was a challenging call out in difficult weather conditions, but we were delighted to bring the sailors to safety, and we would like to wish them well.

“We would also like to commend our colleagues in the Coastguard and thank our crew who responded quickly in the middle of the night, launched our lifeboats in darkness and made their way to the scene in what were gale force conditions, and for then spending seven hours at sea.

“This shout was a great example of the selfless and dedicated efforts of volunteers who used their skills and training to bring six people to safety in what was a challenging operation.”

The rescue concluded after seven hours at sea, with all six sailors safely ashore and the yacht freed following a night-long operation in some of the most difficult conditions faced by lifeboat crews.