Monday, 01 June 2009

Inshore Lifeboat pulls motorsailer off rocks near Heir island

RNLI Inshore Lifeboat Bessie was called into action this busy bank holiday Monday to a motorsailing boat aground with 5 on board.

The Cornish Shrimper had been making her way from Cunnamore to the Skeams Islands in Roaringwater Bay, West Cork, when she got into difficulty. In a force 5 wind, a backed jib left the motorsailer aground on treacherous rocky lee shore. When the engine failed to start a general alert was put out by radio.

A nearby rib, took 4 of those on board ashore to safety. The remaining individual managed to pass a stern line to another small dinghy and then himself took a line ashore, to secure the boat. The fresh easterly winds posed a threat to the safety of the vessel.

Bessie was launched at 14:58 and arrived on scene at 15:05. Helm Youen Jacob assessed the situation and manoeuvred the inshore lifeboat sufficiently close to the rocks to enable crewman Paul O’Driscoll to swim to the shore, from where he was able to climb on board the stricken vessel. He raised the centreboard to allow the boat to be pulled clear. Youen Jacob with crewman Ronan Callanan took the weight on the stern line and towed the casualty off the rocks.

Having determined that there was no apparent damage, the lifeboat towed the motorsailer safely to her moorings off Cunnamore Pier.

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