MOTOR LAUNCH SPOTTED BY AIRCRAFT Mallaig, Inverness-shire. At 8.35 on the evening of the 25th May, 1962, the life-boat E.M.M. Gordon Cubbin left her moorings in a strong northerly wind and a rough sea to search for the small motor launch Alert, which was three hours overdue at the island of Soay. The coastguard made contact with the Northern Rescue Co-ordination Centre and learnt that a Shackleton aircraft was in the area and would be diverted to help with the search. The life-boat first made for Sleat Point, as it was thought that the motor launch might have sheltered there, but there was no sign of the launch. At 10.48 the aircraft spotted the Alert three miles westby- north of Rudharisaig and dropped a float marker. The life-boat was given the position and made for the launch.

The launch, which had a crew of two, had broken down with engine trouble.

The life-boat took her in tow to Mallaig, arriving at two o'clock in the morning..