Propeller fouled AT 1050 on -Monday June 25, 1984, Pentland Coastguard contacted Wick lifeboat station's deputy launching authority with the news that a salmon coble was in difficulties off Ackergill. At 1100 the relief 48ft 6in Solent class lifeboat, The Royal British Legion, on temporary duty at Wick, headed out at full speed from the harbour under the command of Coxswain/Mechanic Donald McKay.

It was one and a half hours after high water, there was a north-westerly strong breeze, force 6, gusting to gale force 8, the sky was overcast and the sea was moderate.

As the lifeboat rounded Noss Head and a course was set for Ackergill, the sea became rough. Closing Ackergill, the coxswain could see a group of people standing on a cliff which gave him the position of the casualty. She was a 28ft salmon coble, about 200 yards offshore and a quarter of a mile east of Ackergill Harbour; she was among rocks and breaking seas and the sea and spray were blowing over her.

The wind was now north-westerly, force 8, and the waves around the coble wereabout eight feet and breaking over the shallows and rocks.

The coast east of Ackergill has rock ledges extending well out to sea. The shore area is bounded by small cliffs and at that time of year the sea is cluttered with staked salmon nets and creels. The coble had picked up a net in her propeller and the bolts to the hatch that gives access to the propellers were sheared, so it could not be cleared. Her skipper had been able to hold himself in position by picking up one of the leader lines attached to the bottom of a fishing net, used to close it.

Coxswain McKay first attempted to approach the casualty from the west.

This he abandoned because of the nets and creels in the area. Taking the lifeboat back out to sea, he lay off ahead of the casualty. The lifeboat crew secured the breeches buoy to a veering line and floated it towards the casualty.

But the coxswain could not get close enough to the coble and the breeches buoy was constantly washed away from her by the sea breaking and swirling around the shallows and rocks. The Speedline was not used because the lifeboat was on the casualty's head, making the aim too narrow.

Finally the coxswain approached the casualty from the east, driving the lifeboat over nets and rocks. Once, when she grounded, full astern power had to be used to drag the lifeboat off the rocks. He managed to get the lifeboat within about 70 yards of the coble and then a Speedline was fired. It landed just astern of the coble and the lifeboat was driven astern to drag the line to the casualty. The Speedline was taken in hand and the lifeboat crew passed a towline. Meanwhile, the coxswain had manoeuvred the lifeboat so that her bow was pointing out to sea and the towline was secured astern.

The coble was pulled clear of therocks, nets and creels and into Ackergill Harbour. Once she was secure, the lifeboat continued on to Wick where she arrived at 1245. She was refuelled, ready again for service at 1400.

For this service the bronze medal was awarded to Coxswain/Mechanic Donald McKay. Medal service certificates were presented to Second Coxswain Donald R. Harper, Assistant Mechanics Andrew D. Anderson and Donald Rosie, Emergency Mechanic James W.

Begg and Crew Members John T. Bissett and Robert Sutherland..