An Irish lifeboat crew rescued an American couple who were stranded off the south west coast of Ireland this weekend.
The two sailors from Vermont had set out in their 37-foot yacht from Boston a few weeks ago and had successfully crossed the Atlantic ocean, heading for Scotland.
However, the pair ran into "challenging weather" off the coast of west Cork on Saturday evening and were advised to head for the shore.
But weather conditions got even worse and the US couple found themselves stranded ten miles south-west of Castletownbere.
The Castletownbere RNLI lifeboat was launched just after 10pm and located the couple 45 minutes later. The lifeboat crew escorted the yacht to the shore, along with the help of a local fishing boat.
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The two Americans were said to be "delighted" to be safe on dry land and were treated to refreshments by their rescuers.
One of the US sailors said: "It was so reassuring to see the lifeboat coming – we were tired and sea conditions were challenging and we are so delighted to be safe and on dry land now!"
A Facebook post on the Irish Lifeboats page recalled the rescue, writing: "At 10:05pm on Saturday 25 June, Castletownbere RNLI launched to go to the immediate assistance two sailors who were crossing the and had run into challenging weather and needed assistance.
"A Vermont-based couple had set out in their 37-foot yacht from Boston a number of weeks ago and were crossing the Atlantic on route to Scotland. At 5:30pm on Saturday evening, the Irish Coast Guard’s Marine Research Coordination Centre in Valentia advised the yacht to change course and make for Castletownbere due to deteriorating weather conditions.
"As the evening progressed and weather conditions became increasingly challenging, Castletownbere lifeboat, ‘Annette Hutton’, was tasked at 10.00 p.m. and launched immediately under the command of Coxswain Dean Hegarty with crew Dave O’Donovan, David Lynch, Marc O’Hare, Donagh Murphy and Dion Kelly.
"The yacht was located at 10:46 p.m. ten miles South-West of Castletownbere – conditions onscene were Westerly Force 6/7 winds and a 3 metre sea swell. A local fishing boat assisted while the lifeboat escorted the yacht.
"Once in calmer waters, a lifeboat volunteer went aboard to assist with berthing the yacht at Castletownbere pier. When ashore, the sailors had refreshments in the lifeboat and expressed their gratitude to the Irish Coast Guard, The Castletownbere lifeboat and the skipper of the local trawler."
This was Castletownbere lifeboat second call-out in two days. On Saturday, the lifeboat's was involved in a multi-agency search for a missing person in the sea in west Cork.
The body of an elderly woman, who was aged 76, was later recovered from the sea. She is understood to be from the Ballylickey area and appears to have got into trouble while swimming.
Gardai are currently investigating the incident.
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