Castletownbere RNLI helps lone sailor after yacht has difficulties in heavy fog
Volunteer lifeboat crew at Castletownbere RNLI were launched this afternoon (Tuesday, 18 June 2019) at 2.30pm to assist a 30ft yacht which experienced difficulty in heavy fog off the Beara peninsula in West Cork.
The alarm was raised when a lone yachtsman experienced difficulty in navigating through the Dursey sound in thick fog. He raised the alarm using a mobile phone to call Valentia Coast Guard Radio requesting immediate assistance.
The lifeboat was launched within minutes under the command of Coxswain Dean Hegarty and located the yacht half a mile south of Crow Head shortly afterwards. Despite the fog clearing, the lifeboat took the yacht under tow and brought it to safety within Castletownbere Harbour. From there, the yacht was able to its way under its own power to the marina in Lawrence’s Cove in Bere Island. This was Castletownbere RNLI’s second call to a yacht this week.
Commenting on call out Castletownbere RNLI Launching Authority Felix O’Donoghue said: ‘The yachtsman made the right decision in calling for help as conditions onscene were very disorientating due thick fog. His swift action resulted in a positive outcome’.
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