Cruiser foundered ON THE NIGHT of Saturday June 21, 1980, the motor cruiser Bay Monarch with four people on board ran aground on rocks and sank south of Swordale on the Eye Peninsula, Isle of Lewis.

The four survivors scrambled ashore on a ledge at the base of 200ft cliffs where they were stranded but safe. All attempts to climb the cliffs were unsuccessful until one man eventually managed to swim round a headland to a place where the cliff could be scaled.

He made his way to Swordale village from where he telephoned the Coastguard, just before 0800 on Monday June 23, 36 hours after the shipwreck.

The honorary secretary of Stornoway lifeboat station was informed immediately and by 0824 the 48ft 6in Solent lifeboat Hugh William Viscount Gough had left her moorings under the command of Coxswain/Mechanic Malcolm Mac Donald. The morning was fine with a gentle southerly breeze and a moderatemoderate to choppy sea; it was four hours after high water.

The lifeboat picked up an inflatable dinghy on passage and at 0915 came in sight of the three survivors stranded below the cliffs. Using the dinghy she was able to take them off and bring them aboard. Although the three men had felt the cold, they were all well. By 1000 they were safely ashore at the station and by 1030 the lifeboat was back on her moorings and once again ready for service..