Courtmacsherry RNLI in 9 hour call out to 31ft yacht 40 miles off Seven Heads
Courtmacsherry RNLI's all-weather lifeboat was called out at 5.20pm on Friday evening last (22 June) to go to the aid of a solo sailor in a 31ft yacht that had got into difficulties 40 miles off the Seven Heads in West Cork.
The Courtmacsherry lifeboat under Coxswain Kevin Young plus a crew of five launched the all-weather Trent class lifeboat immediately and proceeded at full speed to the distress area.
The yacht was on its voyage from The Azores when it developed mechanical difficulties and sought help.
Arriving at the scene at 7.30pm, the lifeboat succeeded in taking the stricken vessel in tow and commenced its long and slow journey back to Courtmacsherry Harbour.
The lifeboat arrived safely back into Courtmacsherry Harbour at 2.15am with the causality in tow and both were berthed at the Pier Pontoon.
The lone skipper of the offshore yacht Quadrille was glad to be in the safe surrounds of Courtmacsherry tonight after spending 10 days at sea on his voyage from the Azores off North Africa to Milfordhavsn in Wales.
Speaking following the call out, Vincent O'Donovan, Courtmacsherry RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer said: 'The Skipper had been on a singlehanded round the world sailing trip for the past 11 months and he lost power with mechanical failure three days previous. By accident on Friday night he landed in his 17th country and was mighty happy to do so. He was completely knocked down in the Atlantic Ocean on the way from the Carribean a few months ago and is looking forward to a few quieter and restful days in Courtmacsherry.'
The volunteer crew of the lifeboat on this call out were Coxswain Kevin Young, Mechanic Pat Lawton and crew members Dara Gannon, Ciaran Hurley, Austin McKenna and Evin O Sullivan.
Lifeboat Operations Manager Brian O Dwyer commented: We are full of praise for the fast response of this evenings volunteer crew and in carrying out the rescue with skill and precision over a nine hour period.'
The local link with the GAA was evident in the crew with noted GAA referee Pat Lawton plus GAA club players Ciaran Hurley and Evin O'Sullivan onboard. Ciaran was just setting off to go to Schull to play a football match when the bleepers went off and instead of traveling 40 miles on the western roads, he ventured 40 miles out to sea in a similar direction. Pat was on his way to referee an under 12 match in the local pitch when his bleeper went off. This year the RNLI and the GAA have forged links in the Respect the Water Campaign to help prevent drownings at sea.
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For further information if required contact Courtmacsherry RNLI Lifeboat LPO Vincent O'Donovan at 086 2530637 or Lifeboat House at 023 8846600.
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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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