BALTIMORE RNLI were called out to provide assistance to a yacht with two people on board that got into difficulty off the coast of Cape Clear earlier today.
The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their inshore lifeboat at 11.57am, following a request from the Irish Coast Guard to go to the assistance of a 28ft yacht, with two people on board, which was propped on a pot buoy near Bird Island off Cape.
The Baltimore inshore lifeboat crew arrived at the casualty vessel at 12.10pm. The volunteer crew onboard the lifeboat were able to free the casualty vessel from the trailing fishing gear. However, as there was still rope wrapped tightly around the propellor, helm Kieran Collins decided that undertaking a tow was necessary.
Volunteer crew member David Ryan was put aboard the casualty vessel to assist rigging a tow from the lifeboat, and both the lifeboat and casualty vessel were underway by 12.26pm.
The lifeboat then proceeded to Baltimore, the nearest safe and suitable port, arriving at 1.20pm.
Once the casualty vessel was secured alongside the pier in Baltimore, the lifeboat returned to the station, arriving at 1.25pm.
There were four volunteer crew onboard the lifeboat, helm Kieran Collins and crew members James Kitt, Kieran O’Driscoll and David Ryan. Assisting at the station were Jerry Smith and Rianne Smith. Conditions at sea during the call were calm with a westerly force 1-2 wind and no sea swell.
Speaking following the call-out, Kate Callanan, Baltimore RNLI volunteer lifeboat press officer said: ‘The occupants of the yacht did the right thing in calling for help as soon as they had become propped and before any further difficulties arose. If you get into difficulty at sea or on the coast, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.’
