Busy Sunday for Baltimore lifeboat crew members

SUNDAY was a lovely sunny day in West Cork, but members of the volunteer Baltimore RNLI lifeboat crew were called out twice to assist a yacht which had run aground in Baltimore Harbour and later a RIB (rigid inflatable boat) which had got into difficulty near Schull Harbour.

The Baltimore inshore lifeboat was first launched at 10.46am after receiving notification that a 14-metre sailing yacht with two people on board had run aground on rocks in Baltimore harbour. 

The lifeboat with four volunteer crew aboard, helm Micheál Cottrell and crew members Pat O’Driscoll, Kieran Collins and Colin Rochford, arrived on scene at 10.48am. Lifeboat crewman Kieran Collins went aboard the casualty vessel and a tow was established.  

The inshore lifeboat pulled the vessel clear of the shore and the two sailors checked for any damage. Once the sailors were happy that there was no damage to the yacht, the lifeboat towed the yacht head to wind to allow the crew of the yacht to set their sails.  

Lifeboat crewman Kieran Collins returned to the inshore lifeboat and the yacht continued on its journey. The inshore lifeboat returned to the boathouse at 11.12am.  Assisting at the boathouse was Rianne Smith.

Conditions at the time of the call were blustery with a west north westerly force 4-5 wind and between 0.2m and 0.5m sea swell on the shore.

Baltimore’s inshore lifeboat was launched for a second time on Sunday at 3.36pm, following a request by the Irish Coast Guard, after a RIB with five people on board had broken down and was at anchor off Castle Point near Schull harbour.

The lifeboat with four volunteer crew aboard, helm Micheál Cottrell and crew members Youen Jacob, Ryan O’Mahony and Colin Rochford, launched but were stood down a short time later and returned to the boathouse at 3.48pm.  Assisting at the boathouse were Jerry and Rianne Smith.

Conditions at the time of the call were blustery with a west north westerly force 5-6 wind and up to a 1.5m swell outside of Baltimore harbour.

Speaking following the call-out, Kate Callanan, Baltimore RNLI volunteer lifeboat press officer, said: ‘The inshore lifeboat launched, but was stood down by the Irish Coast Guard a short time later as the occupants of the RIB managed to get under way safely themselves without the need for any assistance.  

‘If you find yourself in difficulty on the water or along the coast, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard,’ she added.