Two people were rescued in the early hours of Friday morning after their yacht encountered difficulties off the coast of Cork.
The Courtmacsherry all-weather lifeboat was dispatched to the Old Head of Kinsale at 3:40 am to assist a 40-foot yacht, which was taking on water approximately 21 miles south of the coast.
The yacht had lost all power and was struggling in challenging sea conditions.
The lifeboat, commanded by Coxswain Ken Cashman and a crew of five, launched within 13 minutes and arrived at the scene by 5:00 am.
The crew quickly located the disabled yacht and immediately established a towline, while simultaneously pumping out water to prevent it from sinking.
An 85-foot fishing vessel in the vicinity also provided assistance.
With the yacht secured in tow and its water intake monitored, the lifeboat crew slowly towed it back to Courtmacsherry.
Both vessels safely reached Courtmacsherry Pier at 9:30 a.m.
The yacht, en route from France to Ireland, was at risk of sinking when the distress call was made.
Brian O’Dwyer, the station’s voluntary operations manager, stated: “It was fantastic to see 16 of our Lifeboat crew and officers responding so promptly from their beds early this morning for a dramatic rescue. The success was due to an EPIRB (emergency position indicating radio beacon) being activated at sea, which alerted the authorities.”
This rescue by the Courtmacsherry team occurred just hours after the Kinsale RNLI responded to consecutive callouts, successfully rescuing a total of nine individuals.
The volunteer crew received their first request to launch their inshore lifeboat from the Irish Coast Guard at 12:16 pm, following reports of a person in the water near the popular Scilly Walkway.
The lifeboat, helmed by Nick Searls, launched swiftly and reached the scene without delay.
A person had fallen into the water from their rowboat, while another remained onboard.
Upon arrival, the crew assessed the situation and determined that the person could not get out of the water unassisted. They rescued the individual, brought them aboard the lifeboat, and performed a casualty care check to ensure their well-being.
With the person safe and in good condition, they were returned to their boat, where they had dry clothes available.
The lifeboat had just returned, been washed down and refuelled, and the crew were preparing to return to their daily lives when another alert was received at 12:57 pm.
This time, an 18-foot boat carrying seven people was experiencing difficulties at the entrance to Kinsale Harbour.
Upon arrival, the crew confirmed that all individuals were safe, but the boat was unable to continue its journey safely. The decision was made to tow it back to Castlepark Marina, the closest safe harbor.
Following the callouts, Kinsale RNLI crew member John Walley stated: “Like all the people onboard both boats today, we encourage anyone planning a trip to sea to always wear a lifejacket or suitable personal floatation device appropriate for your activity and ensure it is properly maintained. Additionally, make sure you are wearing appropriate clothing for the predicted weather conditions.”
“As we approach the busy August Bank Holiday weekend, with increased visitor numbers in the town and on the water for the Kinsale Regatta, we urge everyone to enjoy themselves but to prioritize safety.
“We advise swimmers, especially those visiting the area, to familiarize themselves with warning signs, read local safety information, and seek advice before entering the water. If you encounter difficulties or observe someone else in distress, call 999 or 112 and request the Coast Guard.”
