Mallaig, Inverness-shire. At 8.37 on the evening of the 16th of November, 1960, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that red distress flares had been seen north-east of Crowlin Islands. There was a strong south-westerly wind with a choppy sea, and it was very dark. It was low water at 8.45 when the life-boat E. M. M.

Gordon Cubbin was launched. She passed through the Kyle Red narrows and found the motor fishing vessel Eminent ashore on the north-east side of Cow Island. Helped by a parachute flare the coxswain felt his way into an anchorage to seaward of the casualty.

The life-boat had a dinghy in tow, and two of her crew manned it and surveyed the position before an effort was made to tow the Eminent into deep water.

The fishing vessel was eventually towed clear, the only apparent damage she had sustained being to her propeller.

The life-boat then returned to her station, arriving at 7.30 the next morning..