Baltimore RNLI called out to assist a sailing boat in trouble
Baltimore RNLI was called out yesterday afternoon (Sunday 9 September) to a sailing sloop that had filled with water near Baltimore Harbour in west Cork.
The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their inshore lifeboat following a request from the Irish Coast Guard at 2.48pm to assist a 6m sailing vessel, with two people onboard, after it had got caught up in pot buoys, had been knocked over by a strong gust of wind and filled with water.
The lifeboat with three volunteer crew onboard, helm Jerry Smith and crew members Micheal Cottrell and David Ryan, reached the casualty vessel within three minutes of launching. When the inshore lifeboat arrived on scene a rib with another volunteer Baltimore lifeboat crew member, Colin Whooley, was already standing by whilst the sailors were bailing the water from their vessel. Inshore volunteer crew member Micheal Cottrell went aboard the sloop to assist with the bailing and once the vessel was clear of water, the sailors were happy to sail back to Baltimore Harbour unassisted. The lifeboat returned to station, arriving at 3.30pm. Assisting at the lifeboat station were Rianne Smith and Marty O’Driscoll.
Conditions at the time were fresh with a westerly force 5 wind but only slight sea swell due to the shelter of the surrounding islands.
Speaking following the call out, Kate Callanan, Baltimore RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer said: ‘Even though the sailors were in no immediate danger, they did the right thing in requesting assistance just in case they were unable to handle the situation themselves. If you get into difficulty at sea or on 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]
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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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