After a Summer Season which saw the Schull Inshore Rescue Service called out on 10 occasions between April and Sept, the last number of weeks have been relatively quiet. Luckily no lives were lost, or have been lost, since that ill-fated night last Dec. in Long Island Channel when one Swiss visitor died.
During the past couple of months crews have been busy upgrading their skills and now 13 out of a crew panel of 15 are fully qualified coxswains.
The service also welcomes on board two new crew members, Thomas O'Callaghan and John MacSweeney.
A Coastal Skipper course run by Niall McAllister of the West Cork Sailing and Powerboating Centre, Adrigole, is presently being attended by 12 members of the service.
In Sept. 10 crewmembers attended a 1-day Proficiency in Personal Survival Techniques course at the National Maritime College of Ireland. All completed the course successfully.
Schull Inshore Rescue is at all times open to new membership, and, anyone can pick up an application form by contacting either Tim O'Connor, Sec., or Denis Quinlan, Hon. Sec.