Yacht being towed to safety after RNLI called to casualty off Old Head

A YACHT that was en route from England to West Cork was the subject of an RNLI rescue off the Old Head this lunchtime.

The Courtmacsherry RNLI All Weather Lifeboat was called out at 12.30pm this afternoon to go to the immediate aid of a 40-ft Sailing Sloop that was in trouble eight miles off the Old Head of Kinsale in West Cork.
The Courtmacsherry Lifeboat, under coxswain Sean O'Farrell and a crew of six, launched immediately in response to the Mayday alert from the Coast Guard and reached the casualty at 1.10 pm.

The casualty, with two persons on board, had lost power in deteriorating conditions at sea and one of the crew on board the yacht was reported unwell also.

The lifeboat has now succeeded in transferring its tow rope in difficult conditions to the casualty, which was on passage from England to West Cork.

The lifeboat has now taken the stricken vessel in tow and is heading at low speed to Kinsale.

Conditions at sea this afternoon were described by the RNLI as 'very poor with strong winds force 7/8 with very heavy swells'. Winds in the area are blowing 35 knots and increasing.

The estimated time of arrival in Kinsale is approx 2.45pm.

The crew on board today's callout are coxswain Sean O'Farrell and volunteer crew members Tadgh McCarthy (mechanic), Mark Gannon, Ciaran Hurley, Ken Cashman, Mark John Gannon and Dave Philips.