Castletownbere RNLI launched on Monday afternoon to assist two sailors after their yacht began taking on water off the West Cork coast.
The 33-foot yacht was on passage about seven miles west-south-west of Sheep's Head when the crew reported water ingress. Although the two sailors had the situation under control, they requested immediate assistance through the Irish Coast Guard's Marine Rescue Coordination Centre in Valentia.
The RNLI lifeboat Annette Hutton was tasked at 3.02 pm and launched at 3.15 pm under the command of Coxswain Marney O'Donoghue. Mechanic Sean O'Shea and crew members Seamus Harrington, William O'Driscoll and Ryan Murphy were also on board.
The yacht was located in good weather conditions, with Force 2 north-westerly winds and smooth seas. Both sailors were found safe and well.
Although the yacht was undamaged, it continued to take on water and had lost all power. The lifeboat crew decided the safest course of action was to establish a tow to Castletownbere.
The lifeboat and yacht arrived safely in Castletownbere at 6.15pm, where the vessel was berthed at the western end of the pier.
Castletownbere RNLI Launch Authority Felix O'Donoghue praised the crew's response, saying the fine weather had helped make it "a straightforward call-out".
