Yacht rescued off Mizen after propeller gets caught in pot buoy

BALTIMORE RNLI launched today after a yacht became propped on a pot buoy two miles south of Mizen Head.  

The Baltimore all-weather lifeboat launched at 10.03am following a request by the Irish Coast Guard to go to the assistance of a 30ft yacht with one person on board which had become propped whilst on passage from Baltimore to Bere Island.

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 the 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 on board.  

The all-weather lifeboat established a tow to hold the casualty vessel in position while 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 the station in Baltimore.  

Conditions at the time of the call-out 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.’