Lucky escape for 7 youths in late-night incident

Seven youths had a very lucky escape early this morning when the small 7’ punt they were in capsized between Crosshaven and Currabinny. Valentia Coastguard received multiple 999 calls at 0052 after their shouts for help were heard by local villagers and live aboard yachtsman. Crosshaven RNLI Lifeboat immediately launched with RNLI volunteers Ian Venner as Helm and Vincent Fleming & Kevin Higgins as Crew. White parachute flares were launched from the lifeboat station to illuminate the area whilst the search continued. Two youths made their own way to shore and left the scene. The five other youths were rescued by live aboard yachtsmen as the lifeboat was launching and taken to the Lifeboat Station where they were treated for mild hypothermia. Lifeboat Operations Manager, Alan Barton said "This could very well have ended in tragedy this last night. The punt was heavily overloaded and only two of the youths had lifejackets - one of which had no gas bottle. Furthermore, going afloat after a night out is to be avoided."

He went on to say " Seven families this morning are sitting down to breakfast with their children……It was only by the very smallest of margins the outcome wasn't very different". Mr Barton also praised the two yachtsmen that launched their own dinghys and assisted in rescuing some of the youths.

ENDS

For further information please contact:
Jon Mathers
RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer
Crosshaven RNLI Lifeboat Station
Crosshaven
Co Cork

+353-86-2588714
rnliseasafety@eircom.net
www.crosshavenlifeboat.org

Crosshaven Lifeboat in 3Hr Service

The Volunteer Crosshaven RNLI Lifeboat were paged this afternoon ,shortly before 1pm after a 40’ yacht sent out a Mayday Radio call after becoming entangled in nets approximately 3 miles south of Roches Point and near to the Cork Buoy. The Lifeboat was launched within 6 minutes and was helmed by RNLI Volunteer Con Crowley with Vincent Fleming & Denis Cronin. On Scene, the angling boat “Jon Boy” and the yacht “Papillion” were standing by the stricken vessel in case they were needed. The lifeboat crew cut away the nets holding the yacht to the seabed and took her in tow to Crosshaven arriving at 4pm, 3hrs after launch. The Yacht was on passage from Kinsale to Helvick Head with 2 persons on board.

Round the World yachtsman to give lecture at RCYC

Alex Whitworth in Crosshaven

Round the World Yachtsman, Alex Whitworth who is currently in Crosshaven in his Brolga 33' in which he has circumnavigated the world, sailed the North West passage and competed in every Sydney - Hobart since 1985, with a class win under his belt, - just to name a few, has quite a few tales to tell of his adventures.


Alex has kindly agreed to give a talk and slide show in aid of Crosshaven RNLI Lifeboat at the Royal Cork Yacht Club next Thursday (23 July) at 9pm. Tickets are €5.00 and numbers are limited. Tickets at the door.

Crosshaven Crewman Stars in TV Series

Michael Meade & Kieran Coniry being filmed

Local Trawlerman and Volunteer RNLI crewman, Michael Meade from Crosshaven is one of a
number of Trawlermen around the Country who are being filmed as part of a TV documentary series to be called “Skippers”.

The series, being filmed by independent TV Company , Open Eye TV, follows the life of various
Skippers, their crews and problems as they try to make a living around the Coast.

Last Friday, The film crew arrived once again in Crosshaven. This time to highlight Michaels “other” involvement with the sea, that of being a Volunteer Crewman on the Crosshaven RNLI Lifeboat. The crew filmed the station , a launch and an exercise involving Michael going overboard from the Lifeboat and being recovered. A second Rib, provided by SouthCoast Marine acted as a camera platform for the film crew.

The Series is expected to be aired on RTE in December or early January 2010

CROSSHAVEN LIFEBOAT STATION OPEN DAY ANNOUNCED

Crosshaven RNLI Lifeboat Station will hold its Annual Station Open Day on Sunday 7th June between 1pm and 6pm at the Hugh Coveny Pier in Crosshaven. A great day of festivities is promised.

The Lifeboat Station and the Atlantic Class Lifeboat “Miss Betty” will be open to the public, with Volunteer lifeboat crew members on hand to show the public around. The Lifeboat and its volunteer Crews will also be holding on the water Search and Rescue exercises along with the Irish Coast Guard Helicopter from Waterford (subject to operational constraints).

The RNLI All weather Lifeboat from Ballycotton, the 14metre “Austin Lidbury” will also be in Crosshaven for the afternoon, along with the Crosshaven Coast Guard demonstration team showing the historical method of rescue using a working breeches bouy. The modern Irish Coast Guard vehicles and equipment will also be on view.

The Crosshaven RNLI Sea Safety Team will also be holding a FREE lifejacket Clinic on the day and invite the public to bring along their lifejackets for a free consultation on the condition of their Lifejackets and to chat about any aspect of Sea Safety.

Live Music will be on the pier, along with face painting and a childrens colouring competition. A “get your kit on” competition will also run in the afternoon to see how quickly
YOU can get the lifeboat mans protective gear on!!!

A great afternoons entertainment is promised!

Busy Easter Weekend for Crosshaven RNLI Lifeboat

Crosshaven RNLI Lifeboat and it’s volunteer Crews had a busy Easter weekend with callouts on the Saturday, Sunday and Monday of the Easter Weekend.

The first call was to a sailor with a head injury. Volunteer Crew member Gary Heslin boarded the yacht and administered First Aid whilst the yacht was escorted to the Lifeboat Station and the casualty handed over to the Ambulance service.

The second and third incidents were thankfully, false alarms “with good intent”. One being a report of an overturned boat and the other a report of a person in the water in difficulties. These turned out to be Lobster pot markers and an inverted racing mark.

Crosshaven RNLI Lifeboat searches in Car plunge drama

Crosshaven RNLI Lifeboat was paged at 18.41 last evening (Sunday 8 March) to reports of a vehicle in the water having slipped off the cross river ferry at Glenbrook. The Lifeboat, helmed by David Venner with crew Kevin Higgins and Ian Venner was launched at 18.46 and made best speed to the incident. On arrival it was confirmed that one person had made it ashore, and that one other person was missing. A search was initiated immediately by the Lifeboat, who were then joined on scene by the Ballycotton RNLI Lifeboat and the Coastguard Helicopter from Waterford. At 21.45, a new team of Con Crowley, Mark Bushe and Vincent Fleming replaced the tired and cold crew until the search was called off for the night. The lifeboat Continued the search for the next two days.

Update: Listen to Alan Barton, Crosshaven Lifeboat Operations Manager, on RTE Radio 1 discussing the incident http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0309/morningireland_av.html?2503219,null,209 (requires Realplayer).

Six-One News: http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0309/6news_av.html?2504039,null,230 (requires Realplayer)

Nine News: http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0309/9news_av.html?2504208,null,230 (requires Realplayer)

Photo: Helm David Venner walks past the car ferry on way to a mutli-services briefing to co-ordinate the search.

Photo2: Kieran Coniry, Geraldine Farrell and Kevin Higgins continue the search the next day

Lucky rescue for missing diver

At 1614 today Crosshaven Lifeboat crew were paged to a report of a diver failing to surface 5 miles south east of Roches Point. Rescue 117, Ballycotton Lifeboat and Crosshaven Coastguard boat were also tasked to the incident, and the motor vessels Jon Boy and Hyland Lass, along with a 7.5m rib, responded to the Coastguard's Mayday Relay.

On arriving at the last reported position of the dive rib, there was no sign of the boat. While Crosshaven Lifeboat crew discussed the situation with the "Jon Boy", a "Surface Marker Buoy" was spotted by the helm of the lifeboat about 200 yards away. Crosshaven Lifeboat was quickly alongside the missing diver and recovered him to the lifeboat. He had surfaced in a controlled manner but was separated from the support rib. All units other than Crosshaven & Ballycotton were then stood down while the dive rib was located and the diver re-united with his buddy.

Speaking later, Helm Ian Venner said "the diver was extremely lucky - he had two SMBs with him and this helped us spot him very quickly. All too often missing diver incidents have a different outcome but today the diver & his buddy were happily reunited. It reinforces the need to be properly prepared - you can never predict when your life will depend on your safety equipment. That's why SeaCheck, a free safety equipment check, can prove so useful".

Crosshaven Lifeboat rescues boat from Whitebay beach

At 15.22 on Saturday Crosshaven Lifeboat crew was requested to launch to the assistance of a 23' motorboat reported on the rocks at Whitebay in Cork Harbour. Under the command of Kieran Coniry, the lifeboat was underway six minutes later with its crew of volunteers on board. On arriving on scene, the lifeboat found the casualty vessel with one adult and two young girls on board firmly aground on the beach in Whitebay. As there was no immediate danger to life, an attempt was made to refloat the motorboat using the lifeboat and another large rib, "Eyecathcer" who had also responded to the Mayday. By coincidence, Eyecatcher had Crosshaven Lifeboat Sea Safety Officer Jon Mathers and Kinsale Lifeboat Crew Annette Coughlan on board. Crewmembers Ian Venner and Kevin Higgins swam through the two-foot surf to bring towlines to the stricken vessel.

After several attempts, the boat was refloated and then escorted back to Crosshaven by the lifeboat. Speaking later about the rescue, Kieran said "they were very lucky where they went aground as it was all soft sand. However, they all were wearing lifejackets and had a VHF radio to raise the alarm. It just goes to show you have to be prepared and that's why the RNLI gives a free SeaCheck service".

Crosshaven Lifeboat has now launched on service 26 times so far in 2008.

Four calls in two days for Crosshaven

With just under half the year gone, Crosshaven Lifeboat has a total of 25 services to date, with 4 over a 2-day period on the weekend of the 21 & 22 June. Early Saturday morning, the boat was launched to a powerboat lost & aground in poor visibility. Later that afternoon, a 30' yacht was disabled off Crosshaven and was towed in. On Sunday, while on exercise, the crew responded to reports of a 34' yacht dragging moorings in Aghada. The weekend ended on a tragic note, however. At 2037 on Sunday night, the lifeboat was tasked to reports of a 13 year old swimmer in difficulty in the River Lee in Cork City. Cork City Fire Service, the Gardaí, Crosshaven Coastguard unit and Rescue 117 also responded to the incident. Despite an extensive search, no trace of the swimmer was found until the Naval Service diving team recovered his body at about midnight close to where he was last seen.

With the summer months of July & August ahead, and over 400 yachts visiting for Cork Week, it looks like the rest of the season will continue to place demands on the volunteer crew of Crosshaven Lifeboat.