Stranded wildfowlers TWO WILDFOWLERS stranded by the flooding tide on Black Rocks, south of Troon Harbour, were reported to the honorary secretary of Troon lifeboat station by Clyde Coastguard at 0933 on Monday December 8, 1980. A third wildfowler had managed to swim ashore to raise the alarm. Maroons were fired at 0935 and Troon's 44ft Waveney lifeboat Connel Elizabeth Cargill slipped her moorings at 0940 under the command of Coxswain/ Mechanic Ian Johnson.

It was an overcast morning with a strong breeze to near gale, force 6 to 7, blowing from the south west. The tide was 2'/2 hours before high water and setting north at half a knot.

The harbour entrance was cleared at 0943 and a southerly course set towards Black Rocks some two miles distant. The rough seas were up to ten feet high and breaking and there was a low south-westerly ground swell.

Arriving off the rocks, Coxswain Johnson anchored in about 15 feet of water on the south side and a line was fired across to the two stranded men.

They were unable to recover the line the first time, but caught it successfullyon the second attempt. Coxswain Johnson decided that in the prevailing conditions the safest way to take the two men off would be by veering down an inflatable dinghy which he had taken aboard in anticipation of such a situation.

Crew Member Roy Trewern immediately volunteered to take the dinghy ashore. He boarded her at 1010 and pulled himself on the line through the breaking seas to the rocks. On landing, he put a lifejacket on the first man and helped him into the dinghy, which was then pulled back to the lifeboat.

Crew Member Trewern remained on the rocks to look after the second man and make sure that the line to the dinghy did not foul on any obstructions.

Once the first man was aboard the lifeboat, Crew Member Trewern hauled the dinghy back ashore to take off the other man before finally being hauled back to the lifeboat himself.

Both the wildfowlers were taken below and treated for exposure.

The anchor was recovered at 1050 and course set for Troon Harbour. The two men were landed at the lifeboat station by 1120 and taken to hospital for a check up by a waiting ambulance.

The lifeboat was then refuelled and back on her moorings ready for service by 1145.

For this service a framed letter of thanks signed by the Duke of Atholf, chairman of the Institution, was presented to Crew Member Roy Trewern, and a letter of appreciation signed by Rear Admiral W. J. Graham, director of the Institution was sent to Coxswain/ Mechanic Ian Johnson..