SEVENTEEN BOATS ESCORTED OVER BAR Arbroath, Angus. During the morning of the 1st November, 1962, a southerly gale sprang up, causing very rough seas at the harbour bar. The Arbroath fishing fleet was at sea, and as the weather was deteriorating several of the boats were returning to harbour. The life-boat The Duke of Montrose was launched at 12.10 on a flooding tide. She escorted seventeen boats safely over the bar and then stood by until it was confirmed that one of the fishing boats unaccounted for had made for Aberdeen. The lifeboat reached her station at 3.50..