A rescue operation was launched after a fishing vessel broke down in a Sutherland bay yesterday evening.<\/p>\n
Members of Dornoch based independent lifeboat group East Sutherland Rescue Association (ESRA) braved a rough sea and other difficulties, including darkness and poor communications, to go to the aid of the stricken boat, which had anchored close inshore at Loth Bay.<\/p>\n
Group spokesman Antony Hope said that ESRA had been tasked at 6.39pm by Aberdeen Coastguard and had launched its boat Glen Cassley in a moderately calm sea just 17 minutes later.<\/p>\n
On board were a four-strong crew Gareth Dixon, Neil Ackroyd, Hugh Fullerton Smith and Neil Dalton.<\/p>\n
It took the team just under an hour to reach Loth Bay in rising winds and with an increasingly turbulent sea - waves were breaking at around 1.5 metres.<\/p>\n
Mr Hope said: Control of the incident was handed over to Shetland Coastguard and communications were difficult with poor transmitting and receiving conditions.<\/p>\n
Standing by at Glen Loth were the RNLI Wick lifeboat and a second, larger, Helmsdale based fishing vessel. But neither were able to approach the boat because of the bays shallow water and rocky reef.<\/p>\n
Rescuers decided the smaller Glen Cassley would tow the boat out of the bay and into deeper water. The tow would then be taken over by Wick lifeboat.<\/p>\n
With darkness encroaching, the Glen Cassleys searchlight had to be utilised.<\/p>\n
Mr Hope said: Amid a confused sea with breaking waves, considerable spray reducing visibility and appalling communications difficulty, the tow was successfully carried out.\"<\/p>\n
The fishing vessel was taken to Helmsdale harbour by the Wick lifeboat.<\/p>\n
Mr Hope continued: The Dornoch lifeboat returned to base at 10.20pm. The incident was fairly straightforward for ESRA, due to recent crew training in towing and despite two crew members having never experienced a live tow, particularly at night and in testing conditions.<\/p>\n
On return it was gratifying to find almost a full shore crew turn-out to recover the boat and wash down, refuel and service it.<\/p>\n
It was an excellent performance from both boat and shore crews.<\/p>\n
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Dornoch lifeboat crew battle high seas and poor communications to go to aid of stricken fishing boat - Northern Times<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A rescue operation was launched after a fishing vessel broke down in a Sutherland bay yesterday evening. Members of Dornoch based independent lifeboat group East Sutherland Rescue Association (ESRA) braved a rough sea and other difficulties, including darkness and poor communications, to go to the aid of the stricken boat, which had anchored close inshore at Loth Bay Continue reading