Yacht adrift off Crookhaven towed to safety

The RNLI Baltimore Lifeboat “Hilda Jarrett” was called at 20:51 on Saturday 12th May 2007 to locate a yacht adrift, with two people on board, and tow her to safety.

The yacht which was drifting approximately ¾ of mile South of Crookhaven and 5 miles North of the Fastnet Lighthouse in West Cork, had experienced engine failure and was unable to make sail because of light winds.

Subsequent to the Coastguard alert, the lifeboat crew were scrambled within 5 minutes, by car, bicycle and foot and launched minutes later at 20:59. Coxswain Aidan Bushe steered the lifeboat across Roaring Water Bay in a 2-3 metre swell, locating the vessel at the reported position. The lifeboat passed a tow to the Sadler 29 yacht and then proceeded to tow them to the nearest safe harbour at Crookhaven.

All this activity on the water occurred whilst those ashore were enjoying the festivities of the Baltimore Fiddle Fair. Musicians were performing to an appreciative audience in the local Baltimore Harbour Hotel, totally unaware of the drama unfolding just a few miles away.

The volunteer crew arrived back at 23:30 and moored the lifeboat at Baltimore pier, in anticipation of an exercise with the Coastguard Helicopter on Sunday morning. Just one more in a series of training exercises designed to equip crews with the skills to respond to the task of saving lives at sea.

Coxswain: Aidan Bushe, Mechanic: Gerry Smith, Eoin Ryan, John Rochford, Don Donovan, John O’Flynn and Paul O’Driscoll

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