Buckie RNLI Lifeboat crew rescues drifting boat after emergency call
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BUCKIE'S volunteer RNLI lifeboat crew took to the seas early yesterday morning to rescue a drifting boat.
The pagers woke Buckie’s RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew at 6.40am on Saturday with the lifeboat putting to sea shortly after 6.50am.
An 18ft fishing boat had suffered engine failure and had called for assistance, drifting some 2.5 miles northeast of Portnockie. Making best speed in excellent conditions, Buckie Lifeboat's Severn-class William Blannin drew alongside the casualty just 20 minutes later, around 7.10am.
Coxswain Mike Rennie said: "Both crew members were wearing lifejackets and seemed well-equipped. Their mechanical failure meant a tow to the nearest safe harbour, Portnockie, was needed.”
Approaching Portnockie, it was clear the shallow water at low tide would deny access to the 40-tonne Severn, so Coxswain Rennie made plans to deploy the inflatable Y-boat to take over the last 200 metres of the tow into harbour.
However, this was not necessary as a local boat, the Westward, was just leaving harbour as the lifeboat approached and offered to tow the casualty in.
Coxswain Rennie said: “I’d like to thank our volunteer crew for a swift turnout and a professional service, and also to thank the crew of the Westward for their assistance in the final stages.”
