AN EXPERIENCED dinghy sailor who got into serious difficulty with his sister off the Wicklow coast has paid tribute to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) Arklow station.
Sailor Brian O’Carroll (29), of Dunboyne, Co Meath, also warned water sports enthusiasts “not to skimp on safety equipment”, even if close to shore.
Mr O’Carroll and his sister Kate (26) were in a Laser Pico dinghy, sailing north of Arklow towards Mizen Head off Wicklow last Sunday in a “relatively calm” northwesterly when the wind changed direction and the sea conditions picked up.
The pair capsized twice, and Ms O’Carroll was separated from the boat by a combination of wind and tide.
“I made a considerable effort, and at one stage managed to close the gap again to about 10 metres, but an attempted minor course adjustment resulted in another capsize,” Mr O’Carroll said.
“I pulled the boat around, only for it to be caught by a combination of wind and wave and it rolled over to a capsized position again. “At this stage I was beginning to have serious doubts about my ability to get back to my sister, and I was starting get very worried about the wild conditions that only 10 minutes before had been ideal. This worry and torment affected my ability to concentrate, and the capsizes became more frequent.”
“About 20-25 minutes and 10-12 capsizes later, I was utterly exhausted and in a state of panic. I had during that time looked around every minute or so to make sure my sister was still above the water and to keep track of her position.
“At times, it took 10 seconds or more to spot her in the swell and this added to my terror. Each time it happened, I thought she was gone for good,” he said.
“She was now 200-300 metres away and the boat was in tatters after the hammering it had taken. It was no longer sailable. The boom had become detached and the sail was flapping wildly.
“Eventually, I made the most difficult decision of my life and left the boat. I knew from training and experience never to leave the boat in that type of situation and I never before understood how people so often made that mistake at their peril. Now I understood. I had run out of ideas and I was utterly desperate.
“I jumped in, knowing that I was already exhausted and looking at a 250-meter swim in severe conditions, against tide, wind and wave.
“My ‘plan’ was to reach my sister and attempt a further 300 metres to land.”
Mr O’Carroll had started to develop symptoms of hypothermia, according to the RNLI.
“I pushed myself beyond all physical and mental boundaries and was tormented with guilt during the times when I just wasn’t able to continue,” he said.
“Strangely enough, I finally started to relax and accept the fate that was starting to appear inevitable. I can only assume that this was the result of some soothing chemical released by the brain. I was awoken from my now trance-like state by a loud voice in my head.”
The RNLI’s Arklow lifeboat, coxed by Ned Dillon, was alongside at this point, and retrieved the brother and sister from the water – with O’Carroll insisting that his sister be picked up first.
They had been spotted in difficulty in the water by Pat Ruddy of the European Golf Club in Arklow, who raised the alarm, according to Arklow launching authority’s Jimmy Tyrrell.
The lifeboat was launched within five minutes.
Mr O’Carroll said that the actions of Mr Ruddy, the RNLI and the quality of the safety equipment he and his sister were wearing probably saved their lives. “Do not skimp on these things just because you are staying close to the shore or because you think you are a good swimmer,” he said.