SHIP OF FOOLS
Outrage after RNLI called to rescue same yacht twice during Ophelia
RECKLESS sailors have been slammed after they had to be rescued TWICE during Hurricane Ophelia. On Monday morning a yacht and three crewmen were hauled to safety off the coast of Rosslare, Co Wexford, during the peak of the storm. And it emerged last night the RNLI had to rescue the same vessel yesterday after a second mayday. Sinn Fein’s Imelda Munster said: “It’s not just foolishness, it’s recklessness. They are not only putting
their own lives at risk they are also endangering the lives of all the voluntary bodies who give up their own free time to save lives. “They need to learn to have respect for them.” The most serious, status red weather warning was in place on Monday, meaning no boats should have been at sea. There have been calls for those who went against the public safety warnings to be penalised. Deputy Munster, who is Sinn Fein’s transport spokeswoman, said: “This is a very, very serious incident that put the lives of others at risk by having to go out to save them.” The 10ft yacht was battered during the storm on Monday. The crew had spent hours trying to reach land before putting out a distress call. Rosslare Harbour Lifeboat answered the shout and managed to get them to safety at 2pm. The yacht went back on the water the following day, but within hours got lost off the North Wexford coast. A lifeboat rushed to their aid the second time and arrived back to base at 7.30pm last night. Arklow RNLI press officer Mark Corcoran said last night: “Thanks to all of our volunteers who are always ready 24 hours a day to drop what they are doing to go to sea to assist others.”