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Courtmacsherry RNLI comes to aid of crew on 35ft yacht off Dunworley Head

Lifeboats News Release

Courtmacsherry RNLI's all-weather lifeboat Val Adnams was called out at 10.15pm last night (Sunday) to go to the aid of a 35ft yacht which sought assistance as its crew got into difficulties off Dunworley Head in Clonakilty Bay.

Under Coxswain Ken Cashman and a crew of five, the lifeboat was underway quickly and immediately made its way to the area of the casualty.

The distress alarm was raised by the yacht's crew with the Coast Guard Marine Co-Ordinating Rescue Centre, when they developed mechanical issues while on passage from Kerry to Youghal. The lifeboat located the casualty at 10.40pm and a tow rope was immediately attached in order to secure the yacht which was about one mile off the coastline.

While there was little wind as sea last night, a dense coastal fog and rain was descending and a decision was made by the lifeboat crew to tow the casualty, which had two crew on board, to the port of Kinsale. The lifeboat then proceeded to tow the yacht at low speed under the cover of darkness and in dense fog to the safe surrounds of Kinsale Harbour and was successfully berthed at the Dock Marina at 2.30am. The crew onboard the call out were Coxswain Ken Cashman, mechanic Dave Philips and crew members Dean Hennessey, Niamh Hurley and brothers Donal and Kevin Young. The lifeboat arrived back to its mooring at 4.15am this morning having been at sea for over six hours.

Lifeboat Operations Manager Brian O Dwyer said: 'It was great to have 15 of our lifeboat crew arrive so quickly last night and all prepared to spend the night at sea if required in the assistance of others. It was prudent that the casualty sought assistance quickly by contacting the Coast Guard.'

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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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