L.É. AOIFE, Irish Naval Service’s ship, is towing a 30ft Norwegian yacht that sustained damage in strong winds 120 nautical miles South West of Mizen Head.
The yacht, with two Norwegian sailors, was sailing from the Azores to the Hebrides when it suffered a broken mast and lost all VHF communications overnight.
L.É. AOIFE responded immediately to a Valentia Coast Guard request to provide assistance to the stricken yacht at 11 am, yesterday. The two Norwegian sailors are in good health and safely onboard L.É. AOIFE recuperating after 16 tough days at sea. French fishing vessel BIRKAIN remained with the yacht until the tow got underway.
L.É. AOIFE is due into Castletownbere with the Norwegian sailors and yacht at approximately 5pm today.
[mappress] Press Release, May 22, 2013; Image: Irish Naval Service