By Dan Walsh
Crews from Rosslare Harbour and Kilmore Quay RNLI were called to the assistance of two people on board a yacht that was taking on water eight miles northeast of Rosslare Harbour on Thursday evening.
The Rosslare Harbour RNLI volunteer crew were requested to launch by the Irish Coast Guard at 4.52pm and the lifeboat under Coxswain Eamonn O’Rourke and with six crew members on board, arrived on scene at 5.30pm. At the time a Force 5 south westerly wind was blowing with moderate seas but with good visibility.
Having assessed the situation and in consultation with the yacht crew, two lifeboat crew boarded the casualty vessel with a bilge pump which prevented further flooding aboard the vessel. A tow was established at 5.40pm.
However, given the inclement weather conditions at Rosslare Harbour, it was decided that it would be safer to bring the yacht to Kilmore Quay harbour and the lifeboat crew at Kilmore Quay, who were taking part in the opening of the annual Kilmore Quay Seafood Festival at the time, were launched and arrived on scene at Carnsore Point at 8.15pm.
The crews worked together to transfer the tow to the second lifeboat relieving the Rosslare Harbour lifeboat and crew to return to base. Two members of the Kilmore Quay crew were transferred to the casualty vessel and the boats made their way back to Kilmore Quay arriving just after 10pm.
Speaking following the call out, Deputy Launch Authority, Tony Kehoe, said: ‘I would like to commend both crews on the successful outcome which was down to the excellent cooperation and teamwork between all involved. I would also like to commend the crew of the yacht for raising the alarm when they did, ensuring we got to them in time. It is vital to have proper means of communication such as VHF radio when heading out to sea as they did.”
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