Baltimore RNLI crew complete late-night medical evacuation after Beaufort Cup triumph
- Pat Nolan
- Jul 12
- 2 min read
Sunday 12 July 2026
Baltimore RNLI volunteers were tasked with a medical evacuation from Cape Clear Island on Saturday night (11 July), just hours after members of the station returned home following a victorious week competing in the Beaufort Cup.
The volunteer crew launched their all-weather lifeboat at 9.50pm at the request of the Irish Coast Guard to evacuate a man who had sustained an injury aboard a yacht moored in North Harbour on Cape Clear Island, off the coast of West Cork.
The lifeboat arrived at North Harbour at 10.10pm, where a Casualty Care-trained crew member carried out an initial assessment before the casualty was transferred safely onboard.
Departing the island at 10.15pm, the lifeboat returned to Baltimore at 10.35pm, where the casualty was handed into the care of HSE Ambulance Service personnel for further treatment.
Seven volunteer crew members were onboard the lifeboat: Coxswain Jerry Smith, Mechanic Brian McSweeney, and crew members David Ryan, Maria Coleman, Eoin Ryan, Kelly Lacey and Conor Harrington.
Weather conditions during the call-out were favourable, with an easterly Force 3–4 wind.
The call-out came on the same day that Baltimore RNLI's Beaufort Cup-winning crew received a warm homecoming and were honoured during a barbecue hosted by Baltimore Sailing Club.
The Beaufort Cup is a prestigious series of inshore and offshore races held as part of Cork Week by the Royal Cork Yacht Club, with the support of the Irish Defence Forces. The event brings together crews from uniformed services around the world, with this year's competition featuring teams from the Irish Defence Forces, the Royal Navy and the RNLI.
Representing Baltimore RNLI aboard the J109 Storm, generously provided by Pat Kelly and the Kelly family, the crew, skippered by volunteer lifeboat crew member Robert O'Leary, produced a flawless performance, winning every race they entered during the week. Their achievements earned them both the San Souci Cup for the offshore Fastnet Race and the overall Beaufort Cup Trophy.
Speaking after the medical evacuation, Baltimore RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer Kate Callanan praised the station's volunteers.
"It has been an incredible week of sailing for members of Baltimore Lifeboat crew who took part in the Beaufort Cup and were victorious in every event they raced in. We are so proud of our volunteer crews both on and off the water and it was wonderful to see some of them honoured last night at Baltimore Sailing Club amongst fellow RNLI crew members, fundraising committee and operations team members, Baltimore Sailing Club members and the wider community."
The weekend highlighted the dual commitment of Baltimore RNLI's volunteers, who celebrated success on the race course before returning to their primary role of saving lives at sea with a late-night emergency medical evacuation.
