Baltimore RNLI assists sailors after yacht loses power off Mizen Head

BALTIMORE RNLI assisted two sailors yesterday evening after their yacht lost power off Mizen Head.

The alarm had been raised earlier in the afternoon following a report from a 26ft yacht that they had lost all battery power.  

At the time the occupants were comfortable sailing the yacht towards Baltimore, so the lifeboat was put on standby until they were closer.  

Due to a confused sea in a strong tideway the yacht was making very little progress towards land and required assistance to get to port so the volunteer crew launched their inshore lifeboat at 7.20pm.

The lifeboat, helmed by Micheal Cottrell and with crew members Ryan O'Mahony and Colin Rochford onboard, met the yacht three miles west of Cape Clear at 7.57pm.

One of the lifeboat crew went aboard the yacht to assist with rigging a tow, and once the tow was established at 8.05pm a course was set for North Harbour in Cape Clear.  Conditions at the time were relatively good with a Force 3 south westerly wind and a sea swell of 1m.  

The lifeboat crew brought the vessel safely into Cape Clear's North Harbour at 8.55pm and returned to the lifeboat station in Baltimore at 9.10pm.

Shore crew in attendance at the station were Pat O'Driscoll, Seamus O'Driscoll and Marty O'Driscoll.

Speaking following the call-out, Micheal Cottrell, Baltimore RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat helm said: ‘The sailors did the right thing in initially alerting people ashore to their predicament and then seeking the assistance of the lifeboat before darkness when their situation wasn't improving.  Should you get into difficulty, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.'

For more information on the RNLI please visit www.rnli.ie  News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI Press Centre www.rnli.ie/press

RNLI volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around Ireland and the UK. The RNLI operates 45 lifeboat stations in Ireland, and is independent of the Coast Guard and government, so depends on voluntary donations.