Fishing boat aground AT 2319 on Saturday September 20, 1980, Shetland Coastguard informed Coxswain/Mechanic Hewitt Clark of Lerwick lifeboat station that the fishing vessel Maverick was aground on the east side of Fair Isle; she was listing badly and making water. The maroons were fired, the deputy launching authority authorised the launch and at 2326 Lerwick's 52ft Arun lifeboat Soldian slipped her moorings.It was a fine evening, the wind variable force 2 to 3, the sea slight and visibility three miles under an overcast sky.

Course was set to pass to the east of Fair Isle and the 43-mile passage was made in 2'/2 hours. Arriving at the scene of the casualty at 0200, Maverick was found to be at the south end of the island at the entrance to South Harbour.

She was aground about 200 yards south south west of The Keels, with her bows heading south south west; she was rolling heavily and bumping badly.

A strong westerly tide of 4 to 5 knots and the easterly ground swell breaking over the dangerous rocks made the approach hazardous.

Before the arrival of the lifeboat, MFV Responsive and the inter-island ferry Good Shepherd had made several attempts to pass a towline to the stricken trawler, but, in the very strong tide, without success.

Judging the seven fishermen on board Maverick to be in danger, Coxswain Clark suggested by radio that they abandon the vessel. This was agreed. By this time the water had risen halfway up the casualty's engine and her hold was completely flooded.

Coxswain Clark decided that the safest method of transferring the fishermen would be by the Arun's Y class inflatable dinghy, and so the lifeboat took up position about 200 yards east south east of the casualty and the inflatable dinghy, manned by Assistant Mechanic Andrew Leask and Emergency Mechanic Ian Newlands, was launched. Just as she was going alongside Maverick the dinghy's engine mounting bracket fractured making manoeuvering very difficult. Sh& was recalled by the coxswain because it would have been too great a risk to take survivors on board. An attempt was then made, by means of the inflatable dinghy, to run a veering line across to the casualty's own liferaft which had already been put in the water, but the strong tide took the bight of the line, making the manoeuvre very difficult.

Eventually the propeller pin sheared and the dinghy was pulled back to the lifeboat and taken aboard.

Coxswain Clark asked the skipper of Maverick to have his men ready in the liferaft. He then very cautiously steamed in close enough for a heaving line to be passed and the liferaft with the seven men aboard was pulled to safety. The crew were helped on to the lifeboat and the liferaft stowed on deck.

Course was set for Lerwick at about 0250. At 0450, however, Shetland Coastguard informed the lifeboat that Maverick was afloat and drifting half a mile off shore. Coxswain Clark turned back to investigate, but at 0540 another message came from the Coastguard to say that the trawler had sunk. Course was resumed for Lerwick and the lifeboat arrived at 0735. The survivors were disembarked. The lifeboat was refuelled and was back at her mooring,once again ready for service, at 0825.

For this service a letter of appreciation, signed by Rear Admiral W. J.

Graham, director of the Institution, was sent to Coxswain P. Hewitt P.

Clark and his crew..