Video shows horrendous conditions RNLI crew faced during 12-hour rescue operation
The RNLI have released a powerful video showing the "challenging" conditions that rescuers had to contend with during a rescue operation off the coast of Cork over the weekend.
Castletownbere RNLI lifeboat spent more than 12 hours at sea rescuing a yacht which had become demasted in storm-force conditions.
The Castletownbere lifeboat, the Annette Hutton, was launched early on Saturday morning when Valentia Coastguard Radio requested assistance to a yacht in difficulties 45 miles south of Mizen head in West Cork.
The lifeboat, under the command of Coxswain Brian O’Driscoll, was launched at 8am and located the man at 10.40am, 50 miles south-west of Castletownbere.
The Coast Guard helicopter was also on scene in conditions that were described as "gusting Force 8/9 winds with a 30-foot swell".
The eight-metre yacht, with a sailor aged in his 60s on board, had left the Azores in early August and ran into difficulties.
The lifeboat, with the damaged yacht in tow, returned with the sailor to Castletownbere at 8.30pm on Saturday night.
