Barra Island, Outer Hebrides. At 9.50 on the evening of 27th April, 1961, the coastguard informed the honorary sec- retary that the Norwegian fishing boat Reform, with an injured man aboard, fifty miles north-north-west of Barra Head, had requested urgent medical aid. At 10.30, when the life-boat The Rankin, on temporary duty at the station, launched with a doctor on board, there was no wind and a calm sea. It was two hours before low water.

The life-boat met the Reform 25 miles west-north-west of Barra Head. The patient was transferred to the life-boat and was landed on South Uist, where he was taken to hospital. The life-boat returned to her station, arriving at 11.30 the following morning..