Four Call-outs for Castletownbere lifeboat

Castletownbere’s all weather lifeboat “Roy & Barabara Harding” was launched on service four times over the last number of weeks weeks. One call was to a fishing vessel and the other three to leisure craft reflecting perhaps that more people are taking to the water in fine weather.

Fishing Vessel requires tow

Just over three weeks ago a call was received from Castletownbere based fishing boat “Lauralena” which had mechanical failure thirty miles south of Castletownbere.  The 55’ steel hulled boat with 5 persons on board was located 17 miles south of Mizen Head and requested assistance.

  Castletownbere lifeboat crew were paged at 1.15 a.m.  and launched on service at 1.30 a.m. Under coxswain B. O’Driscoll, and with crew M. Martin-Sullivan, B Gonnelly, J. Cross, M.O’Donoghue, P. Stevens, and P.O’Conor, the lifeboat proceeded to the location given and was on-scene at 3.45 a.m.

  Conditions were moderate with a force 4 to 5 north westerly wind and a moderate swell. The vessel was taken in tow and proceeded back towards Castletown at restricted speed. The tow took 5 hours and the “Lauralena” was berthed safely at Dinish Pier. The lifeboat was refuelled and ready for service again by 9.10 a.m.

Canoeist in Difficulty

  A couple of days later, the lifeboat launched along with Castletownbere Coastguard Unit and the Rescue Helicopter to assist a canoeist who was trapped in a ravine north of Ballydonegan Bay. The lifeboat was making way through the Dursey Sound when word came to say that the Castletownbere Coastguard had successfully reached the canoeist using its inflatable craft. Luckily the canoeist was wearing a wet-suit and lifejacket and  despite being in the water for some time, he was uninjured.

Motor Cruiser on Fire

Last Monday week, a mayday was sent out by a cruiser on fire with two people on board. Just after 8.00 am, the owner of the 31 foot motor cruiser  “Gull Too” noticed smoke in the cabin and immediately issued a mayday call. The boat was adrift in calm conditions three and a half miles north of the Dursey Sound. The couple from Cork city abandoned the stricken vessel and took to a small dingy. The naval vessel L.E. Aoife, which was coincidently towing the “F.V. Boy Jason” to Castletownbere, abandoned its tow and made for the cruiser along with fishing boat “Ard Casta” and the Derrynane Inshore Rescue Boat. Castletownbere Lifeboat with crew B.O’Driscoll (Cox), B. Gonnelly, M.Martin-Sullivan Snr, M. Martin Sullivan Jnr, P .O’Conor, P. Stevens and M. O’Donoghue, arrived on scene at 9.20 a.m. . The couple were taken aboard the lifeboat and two lifeboat crew went aboard the “Gull Too”. The fire had subsided and the two lifeboat crew remained aboard the vessel while she was taken in tow. The Castletownbere lifeboat and the “Gull Too”  arrived at Castletownbere at 12.40 p.m.

Cruiser with Mechanical Failure

On Saturday evening last the Castletownbere Lifeboat “Roy & Barbara Harding” launched to go the  assistance of another motor cruiser. The twenty foot cruiser was on passage from Castletownbere to Kenmare in fine conditions when she experienced mechanical failure. The two persons on board were unable to restart the engines and had requested immediate assistance. The lifeboat, with six crew B. O’Driscoll, M. O’Donoghue, P. Stevens, P. O’Conor, M. Martin-Sullivan Snr,  & M. Martin-Sullivan Jnr, slipped her moorings at 6.20. p.m. and made for Crow Head . On arrival at 7.15. p.m., the lifeboat located the motor cruiser anchored just to the west of Crow Head. The vessel was taken in tow and arrived to the pier in Castletownbere at just before 9.00 p.m.