ARRANMORE RNLI lifeboat spent the early hours of Friday morning assisting a father and son on board a 30 foot yacht, which got into difficulty off Gola Island in the dark.
The crew’s pagers went off just before 2.00am and it was almost 8.00am before they returned to the station.
The lifeboat crew were joined by Bunbeg Coast Guard after the yacht dragged its anchor and got stuck on rocks at Gola Island.
With a falling tide it was too dangerous to try to pull the vessel clear so both rescue craft stood by until the tide rose again and the yacht was refloated.
At 4:50am the lifeboat began to tow the yacht to Burtonport.
Arranmore RNLI Coxswain Anton Kavanagh said that while coming along Owey Sound it was apparent that the rudder on the yacht was broken and great care had to be taken to keep the vessel on course.
“Conditions were force five to six with a north westerly wind blowing. The shelter of Gola made the tow quite smooth initially but on leaving the area conditions deteriorated and it was a difficulty passage for the remaining journey.
“Thankfully both father and son sustained no injuries. Due to the weather conditions the yacht was very lucky to receive only minor damage,” he added.
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Such has been the reaction around the Gaeltacht, the boat, 'The Cricket', may soon be renamed 'The Loveboat'.