Service to Holland 1: On September 12. 1980.

the Dutch dredger Holland I was in danger of parting her moorings off Irvine Harbour in a westerly gale. Connel Elizabeth Cargill, Troon's 44ft Waveney lifeboat, launched to her aid under the command of Coxswain Ian Johnson. Visibility was poor and. with the weather deteriorating, heavy seas laid the lifeboat on her beam ends several times during the passage. On reaching the dredger Coxswain Johnson told his foredeck crew to secure themselves by lifelines and then he approached the casualty. The wind was now storm force 10. Closing the casualty, carefully avoiding anchor cables, one survivor was taken off despite the fact that the lifeboatstruck the dredger's superstructure heavily.

Four more approaches were made, one man being taken off each time. After an uncomfortable return passage, heavy confused seas made entering harbour extremely hazardous.

For this service Coxswain/Mechanic Ian Johnson was awarded the silver medal (full report, THF LIFEBOAT spring.