Fishing boat aground THE HONORARY SECRETARY of Peel lifeboat station was informed by Ramsey Coastguard at 0145 on Saturday March 29 that the motor fishing vessel Southern Scott was aground on Old Bath's Beach just to the north east of Peel Harbour; the harbour master had asked for lifeboat assistance. The honorary secretary went to the boathouse at once to fire the maroons and the Atlantic 21 semi-inflatable lifeboat was launched at 0159.

Although the night was overcast, visibility was good. The wind was gusting force 3 to 4 from the north west and the sea was moderate. It was four hours after high water and the effect of the tidal stream was minimal.

The Atlantic 21, manned by Helmsman Edward Allen and Crew Members John Keig and Philip Quane, set out for the casualty, which was visible just under half a mile to the north east.

Southern Scott, illuminated by her working and navigation lights, was seen to be aground, her bows heading east north east. She was listing heavily to starboard and her propeller, half outof the water, was turning. She could be heard talking with Ramsey Coastguard by VHP radio.

As the Atlantic reached Southern Scott's position at 0205 radio communications were established and a request made that the fishing boat's main engine be stopped. The general area was illuminated by parachute flares and the Atlantic's signalling lamp. The fishing boat was aground on a rocky ledge with the deepest water on her port side amidships. Waves were breaking against her and, from time to time, washing right over her.

The approach would have to be made from seaward and after consultation with his crew Helmsman Allen decided that he would make several downwind approaches on Southern Scott's port side amidships, holding the Atlantic's bows on to her hull long enough for one of her crew to lower himself down into the lifeboat on each run in. This plan of action was passed to the casualty, with some difficulty, by radio. The skipper was asked to rig a rope over the side; he replied that it would be done and that the crew would be ready to disembark.

Shortly afterwards men could be seen on deck sheltering under the gallows.

After standing off up wind to wait for a comparatively calm bit of sea, Helmsman Allen chose his moment, ran in straight down wind and brought the Atlantic's bows on to Southern Scott's port side amidships by the rope which had by then been rigged. The first man climbed over the rail and lowered himself down the rope, dropping the last five to six feet to be caught by Crew Member Quane and helped into the boat. The engines were put astern and the Atlantic cleared the casualty.

The time was 0218.

The next man was then asked to prepare to disembark and a second run in was made as before. A man climbed over the rail and hung on the rope but he could not be persuaded to lower himself down. As he climbed back over the rail a heavy sea lifted the stern of the Atlantic, driving her bow under Southern Scott's bilge keel. The wave broke over boat and crew, filling the Atlantic to the top of her sponson.

Helmsman Allen was flung heavily against the wheel; both crew members were thrown forward on to the deck and were under water for a time; the survivor already taken off managed to remain in the after starboard seat.

As the water receded the Atlantic's bow lifted and caught under the bilge keel, tearing the bow tube as she cleared. The starboard propeller touched bottom, stalling the starboard outboard engine. Helmsman Allen went astern on the port engine, turned and went ahead at the same time, bump starting the starboard engine again. As the boat accelerated clear of the casualty the last of the water drained off her decks.

Southern Scott's skipper was againasked by radio to have a man ready for transfer. Two men appeared on deck by the rope and the lifeboat approached as before. A man climbed over the rail and lowered himself half way down the rope and, as he hung there, Crew Member Quane was able to leap and pull him into the lifeboat. The Atlantic went astern and stood off; it was 0234.

Helmsman Allen decided that he would have to land the survivors soon because the first man to be taken off appeared to be suffering from hypothermia and shock. As the weather was expected to deteriorate Southern Scott's skipper was advised that the remaining men should disembark, but he replied that he and the engineer would stay with the fishing boat. There was a fifth member of the crew, but at this time it was not known where he was.

At 0245 the Atlantic 21 returned to her slip and landed the two survivors into the care of station personnel to await the arrival of an ambulance which was on its way from Douglas.

Within minutes the Atlantic had once more left the slip and returned to thecasualty, advising her skipper that she would stand by to take off the rest of the crew, if required. A reply was received confirming that the skipper and engineer would remain on board.

By 0300 Helmsman Allen decided that nothing further could be achieved since the tide had fallen to the point where the Atlantic could not get in close enough to make another rescue. The lifeboat returned to station at 0305 and was rehoused.

During the night the fifth member of Southern Scott's crew, who had been unaccounted for, was found sheltering out of sight in the fore part of the boat, and he, with the help of the Coastguard, got ashore at low water.

At 0920 that morning, Peel honorary secretary was informed by Ramsey Coastguard that Southern Scott wasbeing driven further ashore and she was being pounded by heavy seas; the skipper and engineer were still on board and lifeboat help might be needed. The honorary secretary replied that the Atlantic 21 had been damaged during the night; he would, however, go to the boathouse and assess the situation.

On reaching the boathouse it was learned that the casualty was asking for immediate help to abandon ship. The wind was north west near gale to gale, force 7 to 8, and the sea very rough. It was two hours to high water. The sky was overcast and it was raining, but visibility was moderate to good and Southern Scott could be seen listing to starboard, broadside to the weather and rolling heavily with seas breaking over her. The honorary secretaryagreed to launch the damaged Atlantic immediately on condition that the flank lifeboat at Port Erin was launched in support. Maroons were fired and Peel Atlantic launched at 0950. At Port Erin the 37ft 6in Rother lifeboat Osman Gabriel, which had been on stand by since 0830, launched ten minutes later under the command of Coxswain Peter Woodworth and started on the 11-mile passage north to Peel.

The Atlantic, manned this time by Helmsman Brian Maddrell and Crew Members James Coulson and Charles Home, set out at full speed until clear of the breakwater when speed was reduced in the very rough seas. She arrived off the casualty at 0953 and Helmsman Maddrell decided that the only way he could take the men off was to anchor and veer down under the stern of the fishing boat. His intentions, passed by radio to the casualty, were agreed by her skipper who said that he would shut down all auxiliaries and be ready to disembark. Southern Scott was lying bows east north east, as she had been during the night, but further up the beach and rolling heavily.

Helmsman Maddrell took the Atlantic up wind, anchored and veered down to the casualty, a manoeuvre that had to be repeated about five times because the lifeboat's anchor dragged.

The whole operation was made exceedingly difficult by seas coming inboard over the punctured bow section and filling the boat as she was veered down through the very rough water, and at one time her VHP aerial was damaged.

Nevertheless, the Atlantic was successfully brought under Southern Scott's stern several times. Two bags were thrown into the lifeboat from the fishing boat but the men themselves hesitated to board her.It was decided, therefore, that the Coastguard should try to take off the skipper and engineer by breeches buoy while the Atlantic stood by. Both men were safely taken off in this way by 1036. Port Erin lifeboat, which had made good seven miles and was just north of Niarbyl, was recalled.

By 1110 Peel Atlantic 21 was once again rehoused and Port Erin lifeboat had returned to station. As wind and sea were too bad for Osman Gabriel to be recovered up her slipway she was moored at the harbour pier until 1600, when she was finally rehoused.

For these services the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum were accorded to Helmsmen Edward Allen and Brian B. Maddrell. Vellum service certificates were presented to Crew Members John Keig, W. Philip Quane, Barry Home and James D. Coulson..