11/08/2004

Lifeboat rescues 32ft motor yacht without power

This afternoon in squally weather conditions a 32ft motor yacht ’Derry K’ ,registered in Cork, put out a distress call as it was drifting approximately half a mile South of the Stags Rocks. Valentia Coastguard tasked the Baltimore lifeboat “Hilda Jarrett” to carry out the search and rescue operation. The lifeboat with its volunteer crew was launched at 14:40 under Coxwain Kieran Cotter and reached the stricken vessel within 35 minutes of the alert. The yacht was found drifting without power due to engine failure and the crew of two were unable to make sail. The lifeboat put the yacht in tow and brought her safely to the pier in Baltimore harbour. The crew on board the "Hilda Jarrett" were , Kieran Cotter, Cathal Cottrell, Brian Mac Sweeney, Mossy O' Halloran, Brian Ormond and Torsten Marten, on the slip were Vincent Roantree, Aidan Bushe, Youen Jacob and Ronnie Carthy.

The rescue operation took place almost 25 years to the day of the anniversary of the Fastnet race disaster on August 13th 1979. Coxswain Kieran Cotter was a crew member of “The Robert”, the Baltimore lifeboat at the time, and remembers well the 70 knot wind and 40ft waves from which the yachts, “Regardless” and “Marionette” were rescued.

There will be commemoration of the Fastnet race disaster on Cape Clear Island on Sunday 15th August. An auction in aid of the West Cork Arts Centre will take place on the pier in Cape on Saturday afternoon 14th August.

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