Two sailors were rescued in separate incidents off the coast near Dunmore East yesterday afternoon.
Both sailors were piloting their own 6-metre sail-only vessel and had been taking part in the qualifying stages for a long-distance solo race.
They had intended to make their way back to their homeport in France, however, unexpected weather complications meant they had to alter their course and seek the safe harbour of Dunmore East.
The Dunmore East RNLI responded to their first call-out shortly before 2 pm yesterday and made their way to a location just west of Hook Head, approximately 4 nautical miles from Dunmore East.
They towed the French harbour back to the harbour before they got their second alert from the Irish Coast Guard just after 3:15 pm.
Another sailor had gotten into difficulties south of Hook Head where an RNLI crew member boarded their vessel and guided it back to the harbour in Dunmore.
The day’s efforts saw the seamless collaboration of the crew: Trevor, David M, Fergus, Paul, Luka, and notably Susan, who marked her first mission. Operations from the shore were managed by Deputy Launch Authority, Elaine Power and Lifeboat Operations Manager, Liz Power.
Lifeboat Press Officer Peter Grogan commented afterwards, "Despite the solo sailors being very experienced and well-equipped, today's situation underscores the unpredictability of the sea."
"Their foresight to carry a VHF radio was crucial, allowing them to swiftly call for assistance when needed. They did the right thing by calling for help. We can't stress enough the importance for all sea users to maintain a reliable means of communication at all times," he added.
