An American woman who defied heavy storms and a self-steering gear breakdown to sail single-handedly across the Atlantic was rescued off the Co Cork coast yesterday as exhaustion threatened to overwhelm her.
Thirty-three days after departing Newport, Rhode Island, and just a few miles away from her destination, Ms Donna Lange was left drifting after her yacht, the 28ft Inspired Insanity, suffered engine failure.
Battling chronic fatigue caused by days of sleep deprivation, Ms Lange issued an SOS to Valentia coast guard.
She was towed to shore by the Baltimore lifeboat and was last night recovering aboard her vessel.
Her rescuers said Ms Lange, who is in her 30s, was forced to steer manually after her self-steering gear failed midway through the 2,800-mile voyage.
It is believed she was surviving on less than four hours' sleep a night for at least a week.
Baltimore lifeboat press officer Mr Tom Bushe said Ms Lange had been on the point of collapse when rescued.
"The conditions she encountered were horrendous. She said she had experienced only six calm days during her journey," Mr Bushe said.
Though she is not of Irish descent, Ms Lange has always wanted to visit the country and told the life boat crew she was fulfilling a lifetime's dream.
She had planned on sailing to Kinsale but was forced to call for help when her engine died.
Ms Lange said she would spend several days in Baltimore after recovering.