MARINE RESCUE services were given a rare treat when three crew members from the Rambler 100yacht turned up on Valentia Island in Co Kerry to say thank you to the radio operators who saved their lives during the Fastnet yacht race on August 15th last.
The Rambler 100was one of the race leaders when it capsized in dangerous waters with 10ft waves in heavy fog.
Sixteen of the 21 crew were rescued from the overturned hull, but five had drifted in the water for up to three hours when co-ordinators at Valentia pointed a dive boat in their direction. Among those to return to meet Coast Guard co-ordinators on Sunday were yacht owner George David and his partner Wendy Touton. Ms Touton suffered severe hypothermia. Her suit had leaked and she had swallowed a lot of salt water.
Maurice Curtin, who was on duty at the radio station, explained how instinct had steered the searchers. “We decided to run a drift line instead of the square search which is the normal practice,” Mr Curtin said.
This resulted in the five being plucked from the sea in half an hour. Running the square search would have taken 1½ hours.
“We really appreciate that they have come back to say thank you to us and to the Irish people.
“This is not a regular occurrence,” Mr Curtin said.