Patrol vessel holed IN EASTERLY GALES early on Thursday January 31, 1980, fishery patrol vessel Switha, bound for Leith, ran aground on the rocks near Herwit Buoy in the Firth of Forth, a mile south east of Inchkeith Island. She was holed and ranging badly in heavy swell.

The honorary secretaries of Queensferry and Anstruther lifeboat stations were informed of the situation by Forth Coastguard just before 0500. The honorary secretary of Queensferry went to the boathouse to assess the state of the weather and then called three of his most experienced helmsmen by telephone to man the station's Atlantic 21 rigid inflatable lifeboat: Thomas Robertson, Owen Roberts and Donald Quate. The wind at South Queensferry at that time was easterly near gale, force 7, but during the 11 hours of the whole service it was to reach full gale, force 8, and strong gale, force 9.

Queensferry Atlantic 21 launched at 0530 with Helmsman Thomas Robertson in command.

At just about the same time, 0526, Anstruther lifeboat, the 37ft Oakley The Doctors, was launched under the command of Coxswain Peter Murray; she had to make an 18'/2 mile passage before the gale to reach the casualty.

An RAF helicopter was also put on stand by.

Helmsman Robertson reported rough, high and breaking seas but, at slow to half speed, the Atlantic 21 headed into them well until she was within sight of Switha. Then, passing Oxcars Lighthouse, with a half spring ebb tide running against the easterly gale, she encountered very short, steep seas. The Atlantic went through the crest of one particularly large breaking sea at a steep bow-up angle, because of the short distance between crests, and even though Helmsman Robertsonincreased to full power to maintain headway, the Atlantic was set back into the following trough, submerging the stern of the boat and both outboard engines to a depth of about two feet.

The port engine stopped immediately.

Helmsman Robertson turned to run back to the lee of Inchcoln to make repairs, but before the lee was gained the starboard engine also stopped. The sea anchor was streamed so that the boat could be controlled. The plugs were then changed and the engines examined, but the outboards could not be re-started. The Atlantic, now in the shelter of Inchcoln, asked for help.

James Christie, the skipper of Hound Ferry, a 40ft steel service launch, offered help and at 0645 set out from Port Edgar with Frank Rodgers and Alastair Liddle, one of the Queensferry shore party, as his crew. The Atlantic 21 was successfully taken in tow back to Port Edgar by 0810 and she finally returned to station at 1500.

Meanwhile, Switha had reported three to four feet of water in her engine room. A helicopter from RAF Leuchars had been scrambled at 0622 to lift ashore non-essential crew from Switha and Anstruther lifeboat was making her way to the casualty at best possible speed. Running up river before the strong gale in very rough seas, The Doctors was at one time pooped by a sea which flooded her after compartment. As she is virtually an open boat, most of the crew were wet through for most of the service; and the temperature that morning was near freezing.

The Doctors arrived on scene at 0733 but with the ebbing tide there was not enough water for her to approach Switha where she lay on the rocks. So the lifeboat stood by until all the casualty's crew had been lifted safely ashore by helicopter.

In three trips, the first in total darkness, the RAF helicopter from Leucars lifted off the first 13 of Switha's crew, landing them at the Naval Dockyard, Rosyth. A salvage officer was brought back and put aboard the casualty to assess the situation. After some deliberation it was agreed that she was fast on the rocks and could not be moved and at 1058 a helicopter from RAF Boulmer was scrambled to take off the fishing patrol vessel's remaining 13 crew members together with the salvage officer.

While the helicopter was on her way, Anstruther lifeboat put into Leith for a short time to disembark a sick crew member, but she was back, standing by, at 1200. The lift began just after 1300 and was completed by 1320. At 1325 Anstruther lifeboat was recalled to station. Arriving back in harbour at 1615, she was moored alongside to wait for the surge of sea on her slipway to abate. She was finally rehoused and once again ready for service at 1730.

For this service letters of appreciation signed by Commander BruceCairns, chief of operations RNLI, were sent to James Christie, skipper of Hound Ferry, and his crew, Frank Rodgers and Alastair Liddle. Letters also signed by Commander Cairns expressing appreciation to Helmsman Thomas Robertson and Crew Members Owen Roberts and Donald Quate of Queensferry, and Coxswain Peter Murray and his crew of Anstruther, were sent to the honorary secretaries of the two stations, Captain J. F. Kersley and William L. Muir..