IT was a fine and calm summer’s evening when the Rigid Inflatable Boat with five aboard set off from Scotland for Bangor in Northern Ireland but the pleasant evening passage could have turned into a nightmare when the engine’s failed in the middle of the North Channel and night began to fall. But an emergency call to Belfast Coastguard soon had the Donaghadee Lifeboat and her RNLI volunteers speeding to the rescue after a launch at 7.07pm. The drifting RIB was quickly located eight miles from the Scottish coast, a tow-line was secured and the helpless boat and crew were in Bangor before last light.
Our thanks to the RIB crew for the photograph of the tow-in.