Baltimore RNLI were called out to provide assistance to three people on a yacht in difficulty just before midnight last night (Tuesday 29 June) off the coast of Baltimore, West Cork.
The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their all-weather lifeboat at 11.32 pm, following a request from the Irish Coast Guard in order to assess the situation of a 38-foot yacht, with three people on board, which had suffered engine failure 17.5 miles off Baltimore Harbour.
The Baltimore all-weather lifeboat crew arrived at the casualty vessel at 00.31 am and Coxswain Aidan Bushe assessed the situation and decided that undertaking a tow was necessary and the safest way to assist the casualties.
Volunteer crew members from the lifeboat passed a tow to the yacht and the lifeboat and casualty vessel were underway by 00.46 am. The lifeboat then proceeded to Baltimore Harbour, the nearest safe and suitable port, arriving at 3.31 am. Once the casualty vessel was secured at the pier in Baltimore Harbour, the lifeboat returned to the station, arriving at 3.39 am.
There were seven volunteer crew onboard the lifeboat, Coxswain Aidan Bushe, Mechanic Sean McCarthy and crew members Brendan Cottrell, Colin Whooley, Kieran Collins, Don O’Donovan and Brian McSweeney. Conditions at sea during the call were calm with a northerly force 2 wind, no sea swell and good visibility.