Stornoway, Outer Hebrides. At 10.35 on the morning of the 3rd July, 1961, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that a Swedish vessel was drifting ashore about two miles from Glas Island lighthouse and needed immediate help. A strong west-south- westerly wind was blowing, and the sea was rough. It was one hour before high water. At 10.55 the life-boat The Rankin, on temporary duty at the station, put out. She found the vessel Annika of Gothenburg with both anchors down about a mile off shore. Her engines had broken down. H.M.S. Urchin, which had also gone to the help of the casualty, asked the life-boat coxswain to run a tow line and to stand by while she attempted towing. The towing was later abandoned, as the Annika re- ported that her anchors were holding and the engine repairs were expected to be completed in a few hours. About six o'clock, when the Annika was under way, the life-boat returned to her station, which she reached at 8.30..