Baltimore lifeboat tasked to assist  grounded yacht in West Cork

The Baltimore RNLI lifeboat were called out early on Thursday morning to assist after two sailors on a yacht in West Cork.

The yacht ran aground on the Ilen River, which flows through the town of Skibbereen and reaches the sea at Baltimore.

Following a request from the Irish Coast Guard, the volunteer lifeboat crew launched their inshore lifeboat at 7.55am, and arrived at the yacht just a few minutes later.

Helm Kieran Collins assessed the situation and spoke to the two sailors on board the yacht. 

Volunteer lifeboat crew member James Kitt was then put aboard the casualty vessel to assist in rigging a tow, and the lifeboat towed the boat clear from where they went aground.

Following an assessment for damage, Mr Collins then checked with the skipper of the yacht who was happy to continue without any further assistance. The lifeboat then returned back to the station in Baltimore, arriving at 8.30am.

Kate Callanan, Baltimore RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, encouraged anyone who finds themselves in a similar situation to get in touch.

“Even the most experienced sailors can get into difficulty and we were happy to be of assistance to the yacht’s crew this morning. Should you get into difficulty, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.” 

There were four volunteer crew onboard the lifeboat; Helm Kieran Collins and crew members James Kitt, Stuart Musgrave and Johnny McKenna. 

Assisting at the lifeboat station were Rianne Smith, Jerry Smith and Marion MacFeely. Conditions during the call out were calm with a west to north westerly force three to four wind.