Fancy Dress Pub Quiz and Karaoke 2012

Our fantastic fundraising committee hosted a Fancy Dress Pub Quiz and Karaoke in the Skerrries Sailing Club over the halloween weekend. A great night was had by all and over €1000 was raised on the night. Thank you to everyone involved for all the hard work hard work and for the continued determination and dedication.

Some of the images from the night can be seen below, click through to see the full gallery.

Callout 26/10/2012

Callout 21/09/2012

Skerries RNLI launched this morning to reports of a boat being driven on to the rocks in the vicinity of hoar rock having fouled their propeller.

The lifeboat was on scene within minutes and after communicating with the persons on board the boat, made preparations to begin a tow.

There was a strong on-shore breeze and considerable swell running making it difficult to pass a line to the stricken vessel.

A line was passed however and the vessel taken under tow, unfortunately, the lifeboat itself became fouled and as a result was forced back on to the rocks by the waves.

The Helm and crew managed to free the lifeboat and a second tow was quickly established. The boat was pulled free of the rocks and returned safely to Skerries harbour. The 2 persons on board the boat required no further treatment.  The lifeboat sustained some damage and as a result a relief boat has been despatched.

The Coastguard helicopter R116 was also tasked and stood by on-scene.

Raft Race Thank You

What a day! What an event! It was all good things coming together to create a marvellous event that was Skerries RNLI Raft Race 2012. The morning started off grey; rain threatened, but never came to much and indeed. And the organisers weren’t going to be put off. They’d worked very hard in recent months to make sure that the Raft Race 2012 went off smoothly, with no hitches. The one thing they couldn’t control was the weather, but it came good.

As the rafts were being unloaded, carried and dragged into position on the South Beach at Skerries, the clouds separated, the sun shone gloriously and the temperatures climbed into the early 20°’s. Crews from various rafts strolled, apparently nonchalantly, up and down, reviewing the competition wondering if they should have done x, y or z, maybe tweaked this or that. But with poker faces and nerves of steel, no-one gave anything away. Each one believed their raft was the winner.

Crowds gathered and ooh’d and ahh’d over the rafts. Some of the crews came in fancy dress with rafts to match. With some it was possible to see the hundreds of hours spend putting their craft together; with others, well, probably best to say time must have been of the essence! Thankfully, each crew member had to wear a lifejacket and that took a lot of worry away when reviewing some of the less craft like crafts!

There was a real holiday atmosphere on the beach. Children were running up and down, in and out of the water, dogs were being thrown sticks and they went splashing into the oncoming tide. Picnic rugs were being put down and families were settling in for the day, getting ready to enjoy the spectacle of the raft race and the wonderful weather. People sat on the prom eating ice-cream, enjoying the festival atmosphere.

The race start time had to be brought forward a little from 1pm to 12.30 because of the incoming high tide, but nobody minded. As the crews for each raft lined up along the waters edge ready to dash to their raft, drag it into the water and hop on board, they must all have been thinking “this is our Olympic moment”! Tensions were high, there was a tingle in the air, thankfully no false starters! The gun was shot and race was on. Over 100 competitors running, dragging and eventually (in most cases) controlling and rowing their rafts to the finish line. There were some who seemed to have struggle to get on board, others who seemed to be making a bee line for Rockabill, whilst others just appeared to be out for a meander. But there was never a worry, because the event organisers had arranged for a large number of rescue boats, ribs, kayaks and yachts to be on standby, ready to go to the assistance of anyone who might need it.

As the rafts made way to the final marker further down the South Beach, the crowds who had gathered to watch the start, started making their way towards the finish line. Up and down the sand dunes and along the prom people were busy keeping an eye on the progress. Rush Sailing Club Raft came in as worthy winners of the Raft Race. They were like honed athletes as they cut through the water on their trusty craft. We have it on good authority that they’d been practicing for a few weeks and had sea trails earlier this month. So that old adage rings through “Practice makes Perfect”. Well done to that team.

To everyone who spectated on the day, making it all the more special; to all the participants, young and old, who made the day; to the rescue crew and all the helpers – a huge thank you. To those who donated their time and good, to those who sponsored, we couldn’t have done it without you. And last, but not least, to the organisers, for all your energy, organisation, hard work and worry – it all paid off and you gave us a magnificent, rejuvenated fun filled Raft Race, raising in excess of €2500 in the process. Roll on 2013.

The RNLI Volunteer Crew as RNLI Skerries very much appreciate all the fundraising done on their behalf. The charity depends on fundraising and legacies to keep the service around our coasts going, its volunteer crew well trained and its lifeboats fully maintained and ready to put to sea at minutes notice. Indeed, shortly after the raft race had ended, the volunteer crew had two call outs on Saturday evening. Both call outs resulted in positive outcomes with everyone safe.

Click here to see the full gallery

Callout 13/08/2012

On Monday evening the 13 August 2012, a number of the Skerries RNLI Volunteer crew were undergoing Assessment by the RNLI Divisional Trainer/Assessor. At approximately 19.00, Skerries RNLI received a request to assist from Dublin Coastguard. The RNLI Lifeboat crew who were in the middle of their assessments and examinations launched and proceeded to the co-ordinates given by the Coast Guard. The report from the Coastguard indicated a call in reporting a sighting of an upturned boat in the water off Gormanstown, Co. Meath. The Coast Guard also launched the Search and Rescue Helicopter which started an airborne search off the coast from Skerries to north of Balbriggan.

Shortly after, the Trent Lifeboat from Howth, which was out on crew exercise at the time, proceeded to Skerries and joined in the search. The Skerries Inshore Lifeboat, along with the Trent Lifeboat from Howth, commenced a thorough grid search at sea with the Helicopter searching from the air.

At 20.00 no craft could be found in the water and the Coastguard called off the search. Howth RNLI Lifeboat returned to station and Skerries RNLI volunteer crew recommenced their examinations and assessments.