Knockdown A COASTER, Fendyke, in trouble off Carnoustie a few miles north of the entrance to the River Tay was reported to the honorary secretary (operations)of Broughty Ferry lifeboat station, who is also the harbour master, by HM Coastguard at 2212 on Sunday December 24, 1978.

The average readings of the gauge on Abertay Light Vessel, which are transmitted to a recorder in the harbour office, gave a wave/swell height of 20 to 25 feet with an occasional height of about 30 feet. The honorary secretary considered these bar conditions well within the ability of Broughty Ferry's 52ft Arun Spirit of Tayside and alerted Coxswain John Jack. The lifeboat slipped her moorings at about 2225 and headed down river on service.

Off the moorings there was an easterly fresh to strong breeze blowing, force 5 to 6, with a moderate sea. The tide was just after high water and starting to ebb.

Conditions worsened as the lifeboat approached the bar with the wind increasing to easterly gale to strong gale, force 8 to 9. Coxswain Jack checked the weather with Fendyke which was nearer the bar than the light vessel and decided to continue. Speed was reduced to half and a course of about 070° was set.

With the light vessel on reduced power, the channel buoys out of position, the radar only intermittently picking up the coastline and conditions making it impractical to plot. Coxswain Jack had to rely on local knowledge.

The wheelhouse windows had badly steamed up. Deciding that pilotage would be better from the upper conning position, he and Second Coxswain Hugh Scott went up to the flying bridge.

The seas were now coming in from different directions over some 30 degrees on the starboard bow. To ride these the coxswain was on the wheel and the second coxswain using the throttles as necessary. Seas were about 20 to 25 feet high and breaking, with some 70 feet between the crests (period five to six seconds).

As the lifeboat neared the middle buoys she was struck on the starboard shoulder by a heavy sea and pushed well over to port. A few minutes later, at about 2315, a heavier sea, estimated at between 30 to 35 feet high and appearing as a solid wall of water, was seen coming in on the starboard bow.

As the coxswain tried to head the sea, the second coxswain opened up the throttles to meet the sea and then throttled back as it hit the starboard shoulder engulfing the lifeboat. The lifeboat then dropped some 20 feet into the trough and was knocked right over to port causing the capsize switches to reduce the engines to idling. This sea carried away the top mast together with the blue flashing light and masthead navigation light, and also the searchlight which had been mounted on the port side.

Motor Mechanic William Pike immediately re-engaged the engines continued on page 177and Coxswain Jack headed out towards Bell Rock. A few minutes later, when clear of the bar, the coxswain handed over to the second coxswain, who had injured his ankle and, as he was unable to get an answer on the intercom, went below to check on his crew. At the first count it was thought that one man was missing but he had knocked his head and was found unconscious in the we; the rest, who had been belted in, seemed only to be bruised. Damage inside was found to be mainly superficial with small items of gear strewn around.

Coxswain Jack, who had torn a ligament to his right leg, then went back up to the upper conning position together with Crew Member Alistair Piggot.

Second Coxswain Hugh Scott, who had in fact broken his ankle, managed to get down the ladder to the wheelhouse and was lifted into the seventh seat and strapped in.

In view of the second coxswain's and his own injuries and information received from the Coastguard that the rescue was now being carried out by helicopter, Coxswain Jack decided to make for Leith. He continued working from the upper conning position for about another half hour until he was well clear of the bar, and then came down to the wheelhouse for the rest of the passage.

Having heard that Fendyke was in distress, that two of Broughty Ferry's crew were injured and thinking that one man was missing overboard, Arbroath crew mustered at the boathouse.

Shortly afterwards the honorary secretary authorised launch and the 42ft Watson lifeboat The Duke of Montrose was released down the slipway at 0045 under the command of Second Coxswain Brian Bruce.

Acting Coxswain Bruce held the boat inside the breakwater until masts and radar scanner were erected and then, with the crew in position and lookouts posted either side of the wheelhouse, the lifeboat headed out between the piers to cross the bar. With the easterly wind blowing heavy spray across the port bow of the boat, and in very high seas, the bar was safely negotiated.

While crossing the bar a message was received from Forth Coastguard saying that the Broughty Ferry crew member had been found and that there was no casualty for the Arbroath lifeboat.

Informing Forth Coastguard that due tothe sea conditions she would not return to Arbroath, The Duke of Montrose also made her way to Leith. In beam seas heavy spray made lookout difficult and restricted the coxswain's view but the boat was handling very well and riding waves so that very little water was coming aboard. After rounding Fifeness, course was altered to south west to pass north of the Isle of May. The seas were now fine on the lifeboat's port quarter and the drogue was streamed, making the lifeboat noticeably easier to handle.

On arrival at Leith at about 0430, Broughty Ferry lifeboat was met by an ambulance and the coxswain and second coxswain were taken to hospital.

Coxswain Jack was released after a few hours and Second Coxswain Scott was kept in for a few days for an operation to his ankle.

Arbroath lifeboat arrived at Leith at 0810. After changing into dry clothing and having breakfast the crew were taken home by road.

With blizzard conditions in Scotland over the New Year, both lifeboats returned to station as soon as it was possible, on January 2..