Wicklow and Porthdinllaen Lifeboats were involved in an Irish Sea Yacht Rescue

A volunteer lifeboat crew from RNLI in Wicklow Harbour helped to bring a lone sailor safely to shore after a yacht became stranded in busy Irish Sea shipping lanes yesterday morning.

A cross-channel rescue operation began shortly before 5.40am when HM Coastguard received a call for assistance from a 30-foot yacht around 30 miles west of Porthdinllaen in North Wales.

Porthdinllaen RNLI launched its lifeboat with and volunteer crew on board, racing towards the vessel’s last known location.

While en route, crews learned the ketch-type yacht had suffered mechanical failure, could not deploy its sails and was drifting in the Irish Sea with just one exhausted sailor on board.

By the time rescuers reached the scene, the vessel had drifted further towards the Irish coast and dangerously close to one of the busiest shipping routes in the region.

After initially securing a tow, the Welsh crew requested assistance from Wicklow RNLI due to the yacht’s proximity to Ireland.

Wicklow RNLI’s Shannon-class lifeboat RNLB Bridie O’Shea launched at 8.10am under Coxswain Alan Goucher with six volunteer crew members on board, making best speed to the rendezvous point in the Irish Sea.

A Wicklow volunteer crew member was transferred onto the drifting yacht to help secure the towline before the Wicklow lifeboat took over the operation and safely brought the sailor back to Wicklow Harbour, arriving shortly after midday.

Speaking after the rescue, Porthdinllaen Coxswain Adam Daniel praised the quick cooperation between both lifeboat stations.

“Thanks to our colleagues at Wicklow for their assistance today. The yacht was drifting in the international shipping lanes in the Irish Sea and it was imperative that a tow was secured to move the craft clear of the lanes to avoid any possibility of a collision.

“Thanks to both crews, the tow was transferred and secured in a timely and safe manner.”

The casualty was safely brought ashore in Wicklow Harbour at around 12.15pm, while both lifeboat crews later returned their vessels to full operational readiness.