Open fishing boat on rocks FISHING IN AN OPEN BOAT at about 0200 on Friday, July 9, 1976, Paul Power saw an 18' open boat go on the rocks near Falskirt Rock, 52° 08'N 7° 02'W, but, the area being filled with lobster pots and nets, was unable to approach the casualty in the dark. Instead he went round Falskirt Rock to seek help from the MFV Lone Ranger, fishing to the east of the rock.

Lone Ranger passed the information to Dunmore East Pilot Station by VHP at about 0245. The message was passed by telephone to Coxswain/Mechanic Stephen Whittle of Dunmore East lifeboat station, who immediately informed the deputy launching authority. Maroons were fired and the 44' Waveney lifeboat St Patrick cleared the harbour at 0305.

Two extra crew were carried as Coxswain Whittle knew that extra lookouts and a strong party for haulingsurvivors from the water very quickly would be needed.

The station informed the Marine Rescue Co-oidination Centre, Shannon, of the situation at 0300 and HM Coastguard, Fishguard, at 0323.

The weather had been fair but with a heavy swell from the south south west.

At about 0200 the wind increased to force 5 from the south veering south west and moderating to force 3 at about 0400. It was very dark with frequent heavy rain squalls.

Falskirt Rock lies about 2 cables south of Swines Head. Running about north east from the rock is a reef extending about one cable. Immediately north of this reef is a channel one third to a half cable wide, while north of the channel there are other rocks very near the cliffs of Swines Head. This channel, known as the Sound, can be used by small boats at any state of the tide. Inside the rocks near Swines Head is another very narrow channel which can only be used by small boats in good weather at high water, and this is known as the Inner Channel. The cliffs are over 100' high and there is no possible landing place within reach.

At Falskirt Rock at 0315 a fresh breeze, force 5, was blowing from the south; there were frequent heavy rain squalls and a heavy swell from the south west giving heavy surf on shore and suction on to the rock. High water at Dunmore East was 0352 and it was slack water at Falskirt Rock.

After discussion with the crew of Lone Ranger, which could not approach the Sound in the prevailing conditions because of the shallow water and the large number of nets and lobster pots, St Patrick approached from the east, illuminating the area with parachute flares, searchlight and Aldis lamp.

Finding the Sound blocked by salmon nets and after consideration of the state of the tide and wind, Coxswain Whittle decided that the casualty had not hit Falskirt Rock but one of the rocks north of the Sound. The whole area was infested with salmon nets and lobster pot buoys but their positions were unknown.

As the Sound was blocked St Patrick went south of Falskirt Rock and approached Swines Head from the south west, illuminating as before. At this time the survivor could see the lifeboat and was shouting, but he could not be seen or heard from the lifeboat. However, a crowd gathered at the top of the cliffs managed to make themselves heard in St Patrick. The message was that the casualty was ahead.

Coxswain Whittle brought his boat slowly into the entrance of the Inner Channel, when he could see the casualty.

The depth of water at this position could not be more than 15 to 20 feet with the bottom covered with large boulders.

The survivor was thrown a buoy on a line and managed to swim to it. He was hauled alongside and pulled quickly into the lifeboat, which then had to go astern very fast as she was only about 20' fromthe rocks at the foot of Swines Head on which a heavy swell was breaking.

Having recovered the survivor St Patrick's crew lost sight of the wrecked boat, which had been washed clear when the lifeboat went astern; but Coxswain Whittle had the position fixed (there was a buoy for a lobster pot within half a boat's length at that spot) and once St Patrick was clearof the rocks he returned to search for another man who had been in the boat's crew.There was, however, no sign of boat or man. The lifeboat again backed off and the search was continued, with a break to land the survivor at 0500, until 1140, when it was abandoned.

This was a service which could only have been carried out by a man with a thorough knowledge of the area, outstanding seamanship and great courage.

For this service a bar to his bronze medal for gallantry has been awarded to Coxswain/Mechanic Stephen Whittle.

Medal service certificates have been presented to Second Coxswain John Walsh, Motor Mechanic Joseph Murphy, Assistant Mechanic Brendan Glody and Crew Members Stanley Power, Jnr., Kieran O'Dwyer and Louis O'Dwyer..