In rock cleft WHILE ON PASSAGE from Carrick Fergus to Portpatrick on Monday August 3, 1981, the 32ft motor sailer Maureen II suffered engine failure. She continued under sail but, trying to enter harbour, she ran into difficulties and was carried on to rocks a quarter of a mile to the north.

Clyde Coastguard informed the deputy launching authority of Portpatrick lifeboat station of the situation at 0615.

Maroons were fired and Portpatrick's 47ft Watson lifeboat The Jeanie slipped her moorings at 0632 under the command of Staff Coxswain Tom Beattie. A cliff rescue team was also called out and approached the casualty from the cliff top.

There was a gentle breeze, force 3.

blowing from the south west but the sea was moderate with a fair swell running.

The tide was on the ebb.

When the lifeboat reached the scene, at 0650, she found that Maureen II was in a rocky cleft, being thrown on the rocks either side by the sea, and it would be impossible for The Jeanie to approach her. Rocket lines were triedbut failed, so Robert Tyson, who had gone out with the lifeboat crew, volunteered to take a line across. He swam the 100 yards to the yacht with a line and passed it to a member of the cliff rescue team who was already on board; he himself was helped ashore and up the cliff by the CRE team. The line was made fast, the yacht pulled off the rocks to safety and then taken in tow by the lifeboat back to Portpatrick. The two boats arrived at 0710 and the three adults and two children on board were taken ashore. The lifeboat was back on her moorings, ready for service, at 0722.

For this service a letter signed by Cdr Bruce Cairns, chief of operations, expressing the Institution's appreciation to Robert Tyson was sent to Portpatrick station honorary secretary. Mr D. P.

Brookes..