NIGHT SEARCH THE life-boat at Buckie, BanfFshire, was launched on 8th August, 1971, because the 20-foot motor ketch Lillian, which had left Findochty at 3 p.m.

for Hopeman, had not arrived at her destination.

There was only one man on board and his relatives were anxious for his safety. The Lillian had neither navigation lights nor torch. She had last been reported about two miles offshore to the west of Portgordon.

The life-boat Laura Moncur slipped her moorings at 11.5 p.m. She went along the coastline towards Lossiemouth and fired two parachute flares but sighted nothing. She then steamed in an easterly direction about four tofive miles offshore to a position off Scar Nose Head. Fishing boats in the area reported that they had seen no sign of the boat. The life-boat turned and continued towards Spey Bay and Lossiemouth.

The Coastguard were searching along the shore and told the life-boat that a helicopter would join the search at day break. A boat was reported to have been seen a mile off Scar Nose Head, but this turned out to be a lobster boat.

Then a vessel was reported in the vicinity of West Mucks. The Laura Moncur investigated and found the Lillian midway between the West Mucks and Mid Mucks reef. She closed the vessel, retrieved the anchor and passed a tow line. Then she towed the Lillian, whose engines had broken down, to Buckie harbour, returning to her station at 6.45 a.m., 9th August..