The weather around the south of the Isle of Man on Sunday afternoon was dominated by thick coastal fog which at times dropped visability to under a 100 metres.This was badly affecting flights into and out of Ronaldsway Airport causing delays of up to two hours and some flights were completely diverted to other airports in the UK.The fog was of a patchy nature off the west coast of the Island and thick between the Calf of Man and Douglas Bay on the south east side of the Island.
a) Yacht " Shalom"
At 3.20 pm (15.20 BST) Liverpool Coastguard (LCG) received a VHF radio call from a single handed Dutch sailor requesting assistance. His 10m long yacht was by his estimation close to the end of Langness Point, whilst he had charts and was confident of his navigation due to GPS fixes and was not in immediate difficulties, he was requiring assistance into a safe harbour. He had earlier that day left Ardglass bound for either Port St Mary or Douglas.
In view of the thick fog RNLB "Gough Ritchie II" proceeded from her moorings at 3.50 pm. The yacht was almost immediately fixed using VHF direction finder in conjunction with radio conversation with the yachtsman and his position confirmed by radar as just Castletown Bay side of Dreswick Point, Langness. The Lifeboat was quickly on scene and the yacht was escorted back to Port St Mary. Both boats arriving off Port St Mary breakwater before 5 pm.
Low water was at 18.02 BST ( and a spring tide) hence there was no water left in Castletown harbour to safely moor the yacht hence the escort to Port St Mary instead.
b) Overdue Dory
At 6.30 pm (18:30 BST) after discussion with LCG it was agreed to send the Lifeboat searching for a 4.5 m long Seahog dory (an open boat) with two local people on board who where at least an hour an a half overdue at Port St Mary. The boat powered by a 40 hp outboard engine and capable of speeds in excess of 25 knots had departed Ardglass , Northern Ireland, at approx. 2pm. after one occupant had notified their mother of their intention to return (the boat being owned by the father). It was believed that the boat should have been back at Port St Mary no later than 5 pm ( the dory being capable of passages of less than two hours). Thus the lifeboat was requested to conduct a visual and radar search from the Calf Sound along a track towards Ardglass because of the fog around the coast and at 6.35 pm the lifeboat maroons and pagers were set of to alert the crew once more.
Once the lifeboat was clear of the Calf Sound the fog lifted such that a visual contact was made with a small craft; this was investigated and proved to be the overdue boat. Its position some 2 miles west of Port Erin Bay. The occupants were using a GPS navigator and were proceeding at a much reduced speed. However they had both a VHF radio and a mobile phone with them both of which were turned off. Intially they declined any further lifeboat assistance however they soon changed their minds had were escorted into Raglan Pier, Port Erin as the fog became thicker again.
The Lifeboat was refuelled and back on her moorings only an hour after setting out.
Edited 04 August 2000