An early morning tasking today for the volunteers of Skerries Coast Guard with the pagers set off at 01:00 to investigate reports of a yacht adrift near Skerries harbour. A vigilant member of the public had spotted the yacht drifting across the bay and had contact the Coast Guard on 999 to request assistance. Fearing that there could have been persons on board and in danger, the Coast Guard tasked both Skerries Coast Guard and the Skerries lifeboat to the scene.
The large 36 foot white hulled yacht had somehow broken free from its moorings and assisted by the Force 5 Northeast winds, was almost grounded on the rocky shore of the North Beach. After close investigations by both Skerries Coast Guard shore team and the Skerries lifeboat, it was concluded that there were no persons on board. Unfortunately, given the on scene condition it was not possible to retrieve the yacht before it grounded on the beach.
The priority then shifted to ensuring that there was no pollution threat from the yacht (e.g. spill of onboard diesel or oil) and to notify the owner. The Skerries Coast Guard team remained on scene until 02:30.
Later that morning at low tide, the Coast Guard again inspected the yacht with the owner and noted extensive holing of the hull. Fortunately, the owner was able to carry out sufficient repairs to allow the yacht to be re floated at the next high tide and re secured at the harbour.
Incident # 12 of 2010