Blown offshore ON THE EVENING OF Thursday July 5, 1984, Clyde Coastguard received a 999 call after a small speedboat had been seen, broken down about three quarters of a mile off Cowan Rock, near Girvan.

Her crew of two men were trying to paddle her, but she was being blown out to sea by a south-easterly wind.

Girvan lifeboat station's honorary secretary was informed at 2124 and seven minutes later, after the crew had been summoned by pager, the 33ft Brede class lifeboat, Philip Vaux, left her mooring, with Coxswain/Mechanic Michael Storey in command. The visibility was good and a moderate breeze, force 4, was blowing. At 2152, the lifeboat located the power boat which had become disabled when her propeller had fallen off. She had been blown close to some rocks and the lifeboat towed her clear. The two men were then taken aboard the lifeboat and the power boat towed to Girvan. Harbour was reached at 2245 and after the two men had been landed, the lifeboat was remoored, ready again for service at 2300..