Rosslare Harbour RNLI and Carnsore/Rosslare Coast Guard came to the aid of a sailor on a 17ft pleasure craft which had developed mechanical problems on Saturday (7 September).
The all-weather lifeboat was launched at 12.20pm, following a call from the Irish Coast Guard, and was on the nearby scene – The Lagoon adjacent to Rosslare Europort – by 12.40pm.
It emerged that the lone sailor aboard the vessel had called for assistance when it began to drift following mechanical problems in a Force 3-4 north-easterly wind.
On arrival, the smaller inflatable Y boat was utilised and the pleasure craft was escorted the short distance safely back to The Lagoon. The sailor was found to be safe and well. The coastguard team were on standby, if needed.
Speaking following the call-out, Jamie Ryan, Rosslare Harbour RNLI lifeboat operations manager said: “We would like to commend the sailor for having a phone with him which enabled contact with the coastguard. The sailor was also wearing appropriate safety gear. And our thanks to our colleagues in Carnsore/Roslare Coast Guard for being on standby during the operation.
“We encourage anyone planning a trip or activity at sea to always go prepared. Check weather and tides before venturing out, carry the right equipment for a safe journey including a means of communication. Always wear a lifejacket or suitable flotation device for your activity. Should you get into difficulty or see someone else in trouble, call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard.”
The lifeboat crew on this call-out were coxswain Keith Miller, mechanic Keith Morris and crew members Ronan Hill, Sean Cullen, Peter Carr, Conor Barry and Paul McCormack.