Lifeboat Services (from page 190} Enterprise dinghy Spirtle with one man on board, at 1648. The Pentland Firth Yacht Club's guard boat, The Mendicant, was still in attendance but was unable to make headway in the prevailing conditions.

The Three Sisters took the dinghy in tow and escorted The Mendicant to Scrabster, where they arrived at 1740.

The lifeboat then returned to her station and was re-housed at 1800.

Ireland Division From South Rock COASTGUARD ORLOCH informed Cloughey/ Portavogie lifeboat station at 1135 on Monday, February 2, that the captain of South Rock Lightvessel had had a heart attack. As it proved impossible to get a doctor to the harbour quickly, it was decided at 1204 to launch without a doctor, and the 41' Watson lifeboat Glencoe, Glasgow cleared Portavogie Harbour at 1205. The lifeboat arrived at South Rock at 1245, where the weather conditions were rough. The sick man was eventually taken on board and brought back to Portavogie where, at 1330, he was landed into the care of an ambulance.

Scotland South Division Hospital run THE LOCAL DOCTOR asked Barra Island lifeboat to convey an urgent maternity case from Tangasdale to Lochboisdale, South Uist. It was 0425 on Monday, March 8. With good visibility, a fresh east-south-easterly breeze and a choppy sea, the 52' Barnett lifeboat Thomas Forehead and Mary Rowse, on temporary relief duty at Barra Island, left her moorings at 0505 and, with the woman on board, ran at full speed to Lochboisdale, where the woman was taken to hospital.

The lifeboat returned to her station and was on her moorings at 1030.

South Eastern Division Search in dense fog A FLARE IN CHAPMAN'S POOL was reported to the deputy launching authority of Swanage lifeboat station at 2130 on Monday, June 14. Visibility was clear at the Coastguard lookout but there was a dense fog bank at sea level. Swanage lifeboat, the 37' 6" Rother J. Reginald Corah was placed on alert while the Coastguard made further enquiries. At 2137 the emergency was confirmed.

/. Reginald Corah launched at 2147 and drove into the spring flood tide. She was off St Aldhelm's Head at 2230 and found a dense fog bank in Chapman's Pool. With the aid of her radar and echo sounder she began a search and at 2247 found the 35' motor cruiser Forrester,with three people on board, 40 yards south of Freshwater Steps. Visibility was about 50 yards but lifted a little shortly after Forrester was sighted.

As Forrester was not damaged and could use one engine J. Reginald Corah escorted her through the rock ledges to open water and then to St Aldhelm's Head where Anvil Point Lighthouse could be seen.

Forrester's crew reported hearing an explosion to the south east some time after 2100 and so, having seen her safely on her way, the lifeboat started to search to the south east. Nothing could be found and it was concluded that the explosions heard were the lifeboat maroons; the search was called off at 0013 on Tuesday, June 15. /. Reginald Corah returned to station and was rehoused at 0130.

Eastern Division Fishing vessel sinking ORANGE SMOKE observed one mile east of Chapel Point and six miles north of the lifeboat station was reported to Skegness honorary secretary at 1557 on Tuesday, June 29.

In good visibility and with a light eastnorth- easterly breeze, a slight sea and the tide at two hours flood, the Skegness ILB launched at 1604. Thirty minutes later she came up with the casualty, the fishing vessel Dolphin of Kings Lynn.

Her engine had failed, she was taking water and sinking. The crew of the ILB boarded her and began baling but, realising they were fighting a losing battle, asked for further help. Lady Lynn from Chapel launched with pumps on board which were put into use until Skegness lifeboat, the 37' Oakley Charles Fred Grantham arrived and took up the tow. The crew of the ILB remained on board Dolphin and continued pumping and baling out throughout the passage. Dolphin's crew were exhausted having had little sleep the night before.

The ILB returned to her station and was re-housed at 2140 having seen Dolphin safely moored..