Glasgow And Ships Of The Clyde

Girvan Life-boat launched for two yachts off Lamlash, Arran

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 3rd October 1969

Storm Hits Small Boats

Troon life-boat was out for almost ten hours in storm-whipped seas last Sunday to answer three distress calls in the Firth of Clyde.

In the morning the lifeboat set to sea after a report that distress flares had been sighted off Lady Isle.
When the life-boat reached the area, however, the crew could find no trace of any boat in difficulty.

But there was to be no rest for the lifeboatmen.

More distress flares were sighted off Fairlie, and they received a call to rescue some people off a small yacht.

Ploughed

The life-boat ploughed her way through the waves and the crew found two Edinburgh University professors, their wives and a 14-year-old girl marooned aboard the yacht "Annabel."
The five people had planned a sailing weekend aboard the yacht.
They heard the gale warnings late last Saturday and decided to anchor in Fairlie Bay, but the following morning when the gale reached its height they found they could not get off the yacht in their dinghy.
The five were taken aboard the life-boat and put ashore at Fairlie.

Another yacht was reported to be in trouble - this time off Garroch Head in Bute.
But after battling through heavy seas and a gale force wind, the crew of the life-boat discovered that the yacht, the "Pegasus," was safe in Cardwell Bay, Greenock.

Handled

The coxwain of the life-boat, William Dent, told our reporter that the weather on Sunday was the worst the "Connel Elizabeth Cargill" had ever been out in.
But he said she had handled very well in the exceptionally rough seas.
Since the "Connel Elizabeth Cargill" came to Troon thirteen months ago, she has saved thirteen lives.
And almost two hundred lives have been saved by Troon life-boat since the first one came to the town in 1872.

Arran Incidents

Girvan life-boat and the Kildonan Coast Rescue Company on Arran were called out to assist two yachts off Lamlash on Sunday.
The 9-ton vessel "Ivanhoe," with two men aboard, capsized close to the Arran coast.
However, the men managed to get ashore in a rubber dinghy.
Another yacht, the "Silver Crest," got into difficulties, when it went to the aid of the "Ivanhoe."
Despite efforts to keep the "Silver Crest" afloat, it was later grounded.