#RNLI - Rosslare Harbour RNLI assisted six people in the early hours of this morning (Friday 26 June) after their yacht got into difficulty off the Wexford coast.
Volunteers were alerted shortly before 2.30am following a report from the Irish Coast Guard that a 14m yacht with six people onboard was experiencing difficulties 12 miles south east of Rosslare Harbour.
The all-weather lifeboat under coxswain Keith Miller launched at 2.55am and made its way to the scene. Weather conditions at the time were described as good with some light rain and a south east Force 4 wind blowing. Visibility was fair.
Arriving on scene at approximately 3.30am, the lifeboat crew observed that no one was in any immediate danger. The yacht, which was on passage from Poland and making its way to Dublin, had got entangled in lobster pots.
Having assessed the situation, two crew from Rosslare Harbour RNLI proceeded to launch the small inshore Y boat from the all-weather lifeboat so that they could get as close as possible to the yacht.
A towline was established and the lifeboat began to gently pull until the rope was untangled and the yacht was freed. The lifeboat stood by for 15 minutes before the yacht resumed normal passage.
Speaking following the callout, Rosslare Harbour RNLI lifeboat press officer Jamie Ryan said: "The crew of the yacht did the right thing this morning and raised the alarm when they got into difficultly.
"It was an early call out for our volunteers but they were delighted to be able to assist and ensure the six crew members on the yacht could resume their passage to Dublin safely."
