A yacht suffering equipment damage and in danger of being dismasted prompted a call for assistance to the RNLI today.

The Schull based 1720 sportsboat had been participating in the Irish 1720 National Championships being run out of Baltimore Sailing Club, when the forestay snapped. According to the RNLI 'The boat with 5 persons onboard was in serious peril as the forestay is part of the rigging that holds the mast in place'.

Weather conditions at the time were challenging in the exposed waters near the Calf Islands in West Cork with force 5-6 winds and a 1.5 metre swell.

A race support boat held the stricken yacht head to wind, while the inshore lifeboat under the command of Kieran Collins made its way to the scene. The lifeboat crew of Ronan Sheehy and Micheal Cottrell then took the 1720 under tow and returned her to the safety of Schull Harbour.

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Only a fortnight after success in the Commodore's Cup Anthony O'Leary sailing his 1720 also called Antix took the first win of the series at the 1720 National Championships yesterday in Baltimore, West Cork followed by Denis Murphy's Aquatack with Neil Hogan sailing Micam into third place writes Claire Bateman.

Peter Crowley is Principal Race Officer assisted by David O'Brien. Only one race was sailed today and this was a two mile windward/Leeward course which started close to the pier in Baltimore and brought the fleet outside the harbour in a wind which at the start of the race was 12/13kts from the south west and blew up during the race to 20kts.

19 boats took part and these included two from the UK, two from Schull Community College and a number boats from other clubs including RCYC, KYC and MBSC.

Racing will continue today with the organisers hoping to have three races and another three races on Saturday with Sunday as a spare day.

Results: 1. Anthony O'Leary, Antix: 2. Denis Murphy, Aquatack: 3. Neil Hogan, Micam: 4, Steve Forrester-Cole, Ricochet: 5, Peter O'Flynn, Two 2 Tango.

The 1720 National Championships are to be held once again in Baltimore, West Cork next weekend from 9th to 12th September. Last year's event attracted 15 boats including three boats from the O'Leary Family and were held in great sailing conditions, as the video below shows.

This year's event is set to attract in excess of 20 boats say Baltimore Sailing Club and the competition is getting tighter than ever with a good fleet racing through the Winter and Spring out of Crosshaven in Cork.