As part of an effort to find the source of a Mayday call off Cork Harbour today, owners of boats named ‘Bluebird’ around Ireland have been contacted by the Coastguard.
No yacht has been found after a major six-hour search effort off Cork Harbour and the Cork coast this morning.
The search and rescue operation got underway at 9.25am when the Valentia Coast Guard was called with a report of a yacht in trouble.
Contact was received over VHF radio that a 32–foot yacht called ‘Bluebird’ was experiencing engine trouble and sinking around one mile south of Roche’s Point.
The Coast Guard sent out three boats inlcuding local RNLI Lifeboats and two rescue helicopters, accompanied by naval boats and a number of local vessels. The search continued for six hours, concluding at around 3pm.
An area stretching from Waterford down to Galley Head in Cork was searched, with a 6 km square area near to where the yacht was believed to be covered.
Investigations are underway to discover the source of the distress call.
It has been suggested by someone involved in the search operation that it may have been a hoax call, although a spokesperson for Valentia Coast Guard has said that there is nothing to confirm this.
Calling all competitors in the CH Marine Autumn League, as most of your are aware there was a Mayday received yesterday...
Posted by Royal Cork Yacht Club on Monday, 19 October 2015
A hoax call to the service over VHF radio would be considered unusual.
The UK’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency has been involved in the effort, and is checking with ‘Bluebird’ boat owners in the United Kingdom.
No further search is taking place at this time, although a warning has gone out to boats in the area to alert the Coast Guard if they spot anything in the area.
