Portrush
Beni McAlister
June 9, 2023
HM 227. Portrush and RNLI legends
The harbour at Portrush is dominated by a huge Severn Class lifeboat, and the lifeboat is dominated by Harbour Master Beni McAlister who is also the Lifeboat Operations Manager, affectionately known as LOMs in the RNLI. They are the people with overall responsibility for the station's management, training and most importantly whether the boat is launched. In Beni's case a lifeboat which covers three coastal countries and extends as far north as Barra, Outer Hebrides.
To emphasise the importance of his job, Beni gave me a written account from a lifeboat crew who manned one of the most famous "shouts" in RNLI history, and which was immortalised in an iconic photograph taken by Ian Watson (see photo). On February 13th 1989, the coastguard reported that two Spanish fishing vessels had run aground on the Donegal coastline and so the lifeboat was launched into 100 mph winds and 40 ft high waves. It had just battled out of the harbour when one of the seven crew, Terry Murdoch, was thrown against the wheel by the force of the storm and cracked two ribs. After half an hour, the crew received a call to say that they would not be required after all. Due to the severity of the storm they were prevented from returning to shore, instead heading west for shelter in Greencastle in the Republic, not returning to Portrush until the next day.
The dramatic photograph of the vessel, during what was said to be the worst storm ever seen in the area, is regarded as one of the most stunning images of a lifeboat at sea, conveying the sheer courage of the crew in the face of danger.
On meeting Beni you immediately feel you in a pair of very safe hands and it was no surprise to learn how what else he is involved with, including running his own security company. I think he is even more proud of being Secretary of the Portrush Yacht Club with nearly 1,000 members, and he was keen that my crew and I indulged in some legendary Irish hospitality*.
Beni looks after a total of eight different slipways and havens on behalf of Antrim council, including Magilligan Point where the ferry crosses Lough Foyle to The Republic. The history of Portrush deserves another post, suffice to say that if WW2 had continued, the Americans were planning to build an enormous breakwater at the east end of the town, linking up all the skerries with enough to shelter to contain half the US naval fleet.
*For the record, Good Dog's crew got at far as The Harbour Bar where we were waylaid and we never quite made it to the Yacht Club - a return trip is needed.
The harbour at Portrush is dominated by a huge Severn Class lifeboat, and the lifeboat is dominated by Harbour Master Beni McAlister who is also the Lifeboat Operations Manager, affectionately known as LOMs in the RNLI. They are the people with overall responsibility for the station's management, training and most importantly whether the boat is launched. In Beni's case a lifeboat which covers three coastal countries and extends as far north as Barra, Outer Hebrides.
To emphasise the importance of his job, Beni gave me a written account from a lifeboat crew who manned one of the most famous "shouts" in RNLI history, and which was immortalised in an iconic photograph taken by Ian Watson (see photo). On February 13th 1989, the coastguard reported that two Spanish fishing vessels had run aground on the Donegal coastline and so the lifeboat was launched into 100 mph winds and 40 ft high waves. It had just battled out of the harbour when one of the seven crew, Terry Murdoch, was thrown against the wheel by the force of the storm and cracked two ribs. After half an hour, the crew received a call to say that they would not be required after all. Due to the severity of the storm they were prevented from returning to shore, instead heading west for shelter in Greencastle in the Republic, not returning to Portrush until the next day.
The dramatic photograph of the vessel, during what was said to be the worst storm ever seen in the area, is regarded as one of the most stunning images of a lifeboat at sea, conveying the sheer courage of the crew in the face of danger.
On meeting Beni you immediately feel you in a pair of very safe hands and it was no surprise to learn how what else he is involved with, including running his own security company. I think he is even more proud of being Secretary of the Portrush Yacht Club with nearly 1,000 members, and he was keen that my crew and I indulged in some legendary Irish hospitality*.
Beni looks after a total of eight different slipways and havens on behalf of Antrim council, including Magilligan Point where the ferry crosses Lough Foyle to The Republic. The history of Portrush deserves another post, suffice to say that if WW2 had continued, the Americans were planning to build an enormous breakwater at the east end of the town, linking up all the skerries with enough to shelter to contain half the US naval fleet.
*For the record, Good Dog's crew got at far as The Harbour Bar where we were waylaid and we never quite made it to the Yacht Club - a return trip is needed.