Bangor RNLI rescued a man and his dog from a sinking yacht off the County Down coast on Sunday afternoon. The vessel had been on passage from Donaghadee to Belfast when it began taking on water north of Bangor harbour. The crew launched their Atlantic 85 lifeboat at 2:05pm following a request from Belfast Coastguard and found the yacht making its way toward Bangor under its own power. A crew member boarded and confirmed the boat was taking in water but could safely reach the Boatyard pontoon at Bangor Marina. The lifeboat shadowed the vessel to the pontoon, where a salvage pump was used to clear the water. The yacht was later lifted by crane for repairs. The owner was wearing a lifejacket and was unharmed.

Meanwhile, Carrybridge RNLI on Lough Erne were called out three times between Saturday afternoon and the early hours of Monday. The first incident occurred at 2:35pm on Saturday when a 14-metre narrowboat ran aground about two miles west of Kilmore Quay. The two people on board were found safe and wearing lifejackets. There was no water ingress or damage, and the vessel was refloated by an independent recovery company while the lifeboat crew stood by.

At 2pm on Sunday, the Carrybridge crew launched again after a five-metre vessel with three people and a small dog lost power after striking a submerged object near Stoney Island. The craft was drifting toward the main navigation channel. The occupants were safe and wearing lifejackets. The lifeboat towed the vessel to Carrybridge, with two people transferred to the lifeboat and a crew member boarding the casualty vessel to oversee the tow.

The third call came at 12:22am on Monday. Belfast Coastguard, the PSNI, and the Lough Erne Coastguard Rescue Team were searching for an overdue boater who had failed to return to Derryadd Public Jetty after setting out from Belturbet. The lifeboat crew located the unmanned 4.5-metre vessel in a reed bed and found the boater ashore nearby. The individual was suffering from the effects of the cold and was taken aboard the lifeboat, warmed, and then handed over to the Coastguard and PSNI at Bun Bridge Jetty.

Both RNLI stations urged boat owners to carry out regular maintenance checks, ensure lifejackets are worn, and have a reliable means of calling for assistance. A Carrybridge spokesperson noted that the fine weather had drawn many people to the water, leading to increased activity on the lough. Anyone in difficulty on the water is asked to dial 999 or 112 and request the Coastguard.