Fishing boat missing A SMALL FISHING BOAT missing, believed to be in the Loch Shell area, was reported to the honorary secretary of Stornoway lifeboat station at 0010 on Thursday, September 9, 1976.

The weather was cloudy with poor visibility. It was blowing a strong gale from the north north east and the sea was very rough when, at 0055, the 48' 6" Solent lifeboat Hugh William Viscount Cough was launched and set off at full speed. At 0325 she reported having sighted a small boat, which proved to be the missing craft, south of Eialan Uchard. The sole crew was holding on to a string of lobster creels to keep himself from being swept on to the island.

He was taken aboard the lifeboat which, with the fishing boat in tow, made for Lemreway where another boat was waiting to take the survivor and his boat ashore.

The transfer was made at 0430, after which the lifeboat set course for her station. Arriving at 0635, she was refuelled and rehoused at 0703..