Lifeboat tows yacht to safety

The RNLI all weather lifeboat Hilda Jarrett was tasked by Valencia Coastguard at 13:34 to go to the assistance of a yacht adrift in difficult weather conditions.

The 35ft yacht with one person aboard had suffered engine failure and was drifting approximately 1.5 miles South of Kedge Island near the entrance to Baltimore Harbour. The lone sailor was unable to make way under sail due to the weather conditions. Although it was clear and bright winds, were North Westerly force 6 – 7 with a 2.5 metre swell running.

Coxswain Kieran Cotter and his crew of seven passed a tow to the stricken vessel and towed her to shelter in the lee of Sherkin Island. Once the vessel was safely alongside the lifeboat returned to base at Baltimore harbour.

On board the Baltimore lifeboat, for this service were Coxwain – Kieran Cotter, Mechanic Cathal Cottrell and crewmembers Aidan Bushe, Ronnie Carthy, Don O'Donovan, Torsten Marten & John Joe O'Driscoll

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