Two sailors rescued off coast of West Cork after yacht took on water

Castletownbere’s RNLI lifeboat Annette Hutton was tasked at 3.02pm and launched at 3.15 pm under the command of coxswain Marney O’Donoghue, mechanic Sean O’Shea, and crew Seamus Harrington, William O’Driscoll and Ryan Murphy.

A 33ft yacht with two sailors on board was rescued off the coast of West Cork on Monday afternoon. 

The Castletownbere RNLI lifeboat was launched to assist two sailors who were in distress off the the Sheep's Head peninsula and whose yacht was taking water. 

According to the RNLI, the two sailors were able to keep the situation under control but raised the alarm with the Irish Coast Guard’s Marine Research Co-ordination Centre in Valentia, requesting immediate assistance.

The Castletownbere’s RNLI lifeboat Annette Hutton was tasked at 3.02pm and launched at 3.15pm under the command of coxswain Marney O’Donoghue, along with mechanic Sean O’Shea and crew Seamus Harrington, William O’Driscoll, and Ryan Murphy.

The yacht was subsequently located at 3.47pm seven miles west-south-west of Sheep's Head. 

Conditions on scene were very good with Force 2 north-westerly winds and smooth seas. 

The yacht was undamaged and both sailors were found to be safe and well.

However, the vessel was still taking water and had lost all power. 

"Given the precarious nature of the situation, it was then decided to tow the yacht to Castletownbere," the RNLI said. 

The lifeboat and rescued yacht arrived in Castletownbere at 6.15pm where she was berthed at the western end of the pier.

Felix O’Donoghue, launch authority at Castletownbere RNLI, complimented the coxswain and crew for their swift response and effective rescue and noted that the fine conditions had led it to being a straightforward call-out.