Moorings parted PENTLAND COASTGUARD telephoned the honorary secretary of Kirkwall lifeboat station at 0915 on Sunday January 22, 1984, to report that the 16-ton fishing vessel Benachie had parted her moorings and gone on to the beach on the south of the Island of Rousay, some nine miles north of Kirkwall. Her owner and two of his crew had managed to board and were trying to salvage the vessel. The assembly signal was made at 1000 and ten minutes later Kirkwall's 70ft Clyde lifeboat Grace Paterson Ritchie slipped her moorings and set out on service under the command of Coxswain Captain William Sinclair.

It was three hours before high watersprings with a storm force 10 blowing from the south east. The sea was rough and visibility, about one mile, was reduced during snow showers.

The lifeboat cleared harbour and headed for Rousay at full speed. Very heavy seas were met when clearing the island of Shapinsay and the sea became even heavier between the islands of Wyre and Egilsay, with the wind against the flood tide. It was a following sea and full speed was maintained.

As the lifeboat cleared east of Wyre, at 1115, Benachie was sighted on a lee shore. She had been blown along a sandy beach but was now between rocks and there was no possibility of her crew leaving her; a 30 foot bank prevented them from clambering ashore. The fishing vessel was rolling heavily, first one and then the other gunwale going under the water. A very heavy sea was running and waves were breaking over the casualty.

By now the south-easterly storm was gusting to violent storm, force 11, and it was still against the flood tide. The snow showers had become a blizzard.

Coxswain Sinclair anchored 200 metres off shore, up tide of Benachie, and veered down until the lifeboat was about 40 metres off the fishing vessel. A line was fired across but landed about two metres down wind of Benachie. As the lifeboat's anchor was dragging, Coxswain Sinclair weighed anchor and moved up tide to re-anchor. The sea bed is hard sand in this area. As the lifeboat was moved the line came close enough to the fishing vessel for her crew to get hold of it. A towline was passed and the casualty pulled clear of the rocks. She was escorted to Wyre Pier for inspection. All was found to be sound so Coxswain Sinclair altered course for station.

On the return passage, speed was reduced because of the very rough conditions met until the lifeboat reached the lee of Shapinsay. By 1325 Grace Paterson Ritchie was back on station and once again ready for service.

For this service the bronze medal was awarded to Coxswain Captain William S. Sinclair. Medal service certificates were presented to Second Coxswain Andrew L. Grieve, Motor Mechanic Dupre A. Strutt, Second Motor Mechanic Robert S. Mainland, Emergency Mechanics Michael Drever and Michael Foulis and Crew Members Robert M.

Hall and Geoffrey R. Gardens..