Longhope, Orkneys. At 2.46 on the morning of the 9th of June, 1960, the coastguard told the honorary secretary that a lightkeeper at Dunnet Head had seen a red flare in the direction of the Island of Swona. At 3.10 the life-boat Thomas McCunn was launched one hour before low water in a light variable breeze and a smooth sea. She found the German trawler Adolph Hennecke of Rostock ashore between two ledges of rock near Bow Skerry on the western side of Swona. The life-boat stood by, and as the tide made, the stern of the trawler swung on to a rocky ledge.

The coxswain then offered to put out a kedge anchor, but the trawler's skipper did not agree. He asked the cox- swain to pull the stern of the vessel round into deep water. This was done, and the life-boat held her there until 6.45, when the trawler floated off. The trawler then came full astern, causing a rope, which had earlier been rigged from amidships on the port side of the trawler to the forward bollard of the life-boat, to sweep across the life-boat's deck. It threw a member of the life- boat's crew overboard and also caused minor damage to the boat. The man was quickly recovered, and the trawler was taken in tow to Longhope pier, arriving at 9.15. Property salvage case..