Girvan, Ayrshire - At 11 a.m. on 4th November, 1969, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that the lighthouse tender, taking a relief keeper to the Ailsa Craig lighthouse, was in difficulties. At 11.20 the lifeboat James and Barbara Aitken slipped her moorings in a strong west north westerly wind with a moderate sea. It was low water. She came up with the vessel Ailsa Lady four miles west of Girvan. She had engine trouble. The life-boat took her in tow, with her crew of three on board, to Girvan, and returned to her station at 12.15 p.m..