Baltimore RNLI launched after yacht is propped south of Mizen Head
Baltimore RNLI launched today (Friday 28 June), after a yacht became propped on a pot buoy two miles south of Mizen Head off the coast of west Cork.
The Baltimore all-weather lifeboat launched at 10.03am following a request by the Irish Coast Guard to go to the assistance of a 30 foot yacht with one person onboard which had become propped whilst on passage from Baltimore to Bere Island in west Cork.
The lifeboat with seven volunteer crew aboard, Coxswain Kieran Cotter, mechanic Cathal Cottrell and crew members Aidan Bushe, Jerry Smith, Simon Duggan, Don O’Donovan and Kieran Collins, arrived on scene at 10.47am.
After a quick assessment of the situation the smaller Y-class lifeboat was launched from the all-weather lifeboat at 10.52am with crew members Don O’Donovan and Kieran Collins onboard. The all-weather lifeboat established a tow to hold the casualty vessel in position whilst the crew on the Y-boat worked to free it from the pot buoy. The pot line was cleared by 11.02am and after assessing that all was fine with the vessel, the tow was disconnected and the yacht continued on its journey to Bere Island. Once the y-boat was recovered to the lifeboat, they returned to station in Baltimore.
Conditions at the time of the call were calm with an easterly force 3-4 wind, but visibility on scene was poor due to mist and fog.
Speaking following the call out, Kate Callanan, Baltimore RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer said: ‘The all-weather lifeboat carries a smaller vessel aboard called a Y-class lifeboat. This is a small inflatable vessel which can be used to gain more accessibility in tighter situations whilst working alongside the all-weather lifeboat. 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 telephone Kate Callanan, Baltimore RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 087 2906607 or [email protected] or Nuala McAloon, Regional Media Officer on 0876483547 or [email protected] or Niamh Stephenson, Regional Media Manager on 0871254124 or [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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