Kilrush RNLI attend three drifting vessels on the River Shannon

Sailors are being urged to double check their mooring lines after three boats went adrift within two days.

On 15 September, the Kilrush RNLI crew were alerted that a yacht had broken free from its moorings in Glin, Co. Limerick and ended up on the rocks at Trenchard point.

After discussing the situation with the coast guard, the owner decided to leave the yacht safely aground and organised a crane lift the next day.

Two more boats broke free from their moorings on 17 September. The first RNLI callout came at 1.10pm to a 21ft wooden sailing yacht that had come adrift from Glin pier.

Crews were then called to a Flying 15 boat, which ran aground on Hog Island and damaged its hull and bow. An RNLI crewman managed to keep the Flying 15 afloat by bailing water out with his helmet.

In all cases the boats were attached to individual buoys and the mooring lines broke.

Lifeboat press officer for Kilrush RNLI Pauline Dunleavy said: ‘I would advise people to check that their mooring lines are strong and stable.’