Wednesday, October 13, 1999
Sligo Bay Lifeboat was launched to rescue a windsurfer in distress at the weekend. The man had been out surfing with friends off Rosses Point on Sunday when his mast broke and he had to put ashore on Coney Island. The wind was very strong at the time, blowing about a force 8 or 9 and the sea was very high. The lifeboat had only just returned to her mooring after a routine exercise when it was called out.
In conditions that were favoured by windsurfers but unsuitable for other smaller vessels,
the lifeboat made an approach to the beach on Coney Island in high surf to pick up the man
and his damaged equipment.
The man was safely returned to the Yacht Club slipway in Rosses Point. So far this year
the lifeboat has been called out on nine occasions to assist people in distress at sea.