Youghal fisherman Barry Clohessy came across an intriguing item during a walk on Youghal beach recently. Barry was approaching Redbarn from the Youghal side when he spotted a fluorescent pink object on the shoreline. Closer inspection revealed it was an American-made buoy, such as would be used to guide a boat to lobster pots.
By Christy Parker / Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com Email: news@youghalonline.com

The buoy was covered with miniature barnacles from which grew some form of marine life that resembled long, thick, jelly-like worms. “This suggests it was in the water for a very long time, probably three or four years at least,” says Barry.

The object was all the more interesting for the man-made markings it held. It was adorned with several small reflective strips, presumably to help locate it at night The Number 3 was festooned on upper end in felt-tip marker, while the words ‘Spit and Sputter’ were also written on the side.

Other scribbled markings were the numbers ‘648-8413’ and ‘Home: 643-2277,’ which possibly are local telephone numbers within its area of origin. The number 105958 was also written on it. “That may be a licence number of some sort,” muses Barry

Finally, the manufacturer’s identity, barely discernible on the underside, was found to be ‘Polyform US Ltd.’ A fast internet search shows this to be a company based in the city of Kent, in the King’s County, Washington, eastern USA.

The company’s website indicates that the buoy is form its LD (Low Drag) series, patented in 1989. It would be used to retrieve 700-lb. crab pots in dangerous seas of up to 30ft. The reduced surface drag is intended to facilitate “faster, safer pick ups as well as easing strain on both crew and gear,” say the makers.

However, it remains a mystery how from whence the buoy travelled to Youghal. Various theories have been floated and efforts to land the truth are ongoing via international channels.