Baltimore RNLI assist yacht off the coast of Baltimore, West Cork

The volunteer lifeboat crew were on exercise south of Baltimore Harbour at 8.50pm when the Irish Coast Guard requested them to go to the assistance of a 23ft yacht north of Cape Clear Island. The yacht, with one person onboard, was having engine difficulty.

The Baltimore all-weather lifeboat with six volunteer crew members aboard including Coxswain Kieran Cotter, mechanic Micheal Cottrell and crew members Ronnie Carthy, David Ryan, Don O’Donovan and Jim Giffiths, arrived on scene at 9.08pm.

The lifeboat escorted the yacht, which was at this stage under sail, on its passage to North Harbour in Cape Clear. Conditions in the area at the time were relatively calm with a westerly force 3-4 wind and a 0.5m swell. On approach to the harbour, the smaller Y-boat was launched from the all-weather lifeboat with crew members Jim Griffiths and David Ryan aboard. This was to provide assistance to the vessel in entering and berthing within the harbour. Once the yacht was secured in the harbour, the Y-boat was recovered and the lifeboat departed Cape Clear at 9.42pm.

Prior to returning to the station in Baltimore, the lifeboat made its way out to the Fastnet Rock lighthouse to see the Baltimore RNLI crew racing Juggerknot in the Beaufort Cup. The Beaufort Cup is a series of races for military and rescue service crews as part of Volvo Cork Week.

Speaking following the call out, Kate Callanan, Baltimore RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer said: ‘Even though the yacht was able to make its own way to Cape Clear, the owner did the correct thing in requesting assistance given that he had no properly functioning engine and wasn’t sure how he would manage entering the harbour on his own. If you get into difficulty on the water or along the coast, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.’

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RNLI media contacts

For more information please contact Kate Callanan Baltimore RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer Tel: 087 290 6607

Niamh Stephenson RNLI Regional Media Manager Tel: 087 1254 124 / 01 8900 460 email [email protected] or Nuala McAloon RNLI Regional Media Officer Tel: 087 6483547 email: [email protected]

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

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Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.