Motor cruiser sparks Buckie lifeboat alert
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BUCKIE'S RNLI lifeboat was launched yesterday to come to the aid of a motor cruiser with engine trouble.
The lifeboat was launched at noon on Thursday, September 15 to assist the 10-metre vessel, which had been forced to shut down its engine due to overheating.
The cruiser was located two miles north of Spey Bay and was being blown toward the shore by a stiff northerly wind.
The lifeboat made good speed despite the choppy seas and was on scene by 12.30pm.
Coxswain Davie Grant determined that a precautionary tow to the nearest safe harbour was needed, and a towline was passed to the casualty vessel.
Approaching Buckie, the cruiser’s skipper reported that he could re-start his engine for a short period to enter harbour and manoeuvre alongside, if the lifeboat would stand by. The tow was dropped 200 metres from the harbour entrance and the lifeboat escorted the cruiser to a berth at around 1.30pm.
It was the second callout of the week for the volunteer lifeboat crew, who were called into action at around 5.30pm on Sunday, September 11 to assist a yacht some three quarters of a mile north east of Lossiemouth.
The 25-foot yacht, with three people on board, had suffered engine failure and was unable to make her way into Lossiemouth Marina under her own power.
Coxswain Grant took the yacht in tow but, reaching Lossiemouth at a low spring tide, was unable to enter the harbour. The lifeboat’s daughter craft, the inflatable Y-boat, was launched to complete the tow.
