Drifting on to lee shore WITH WINDS OF STORM FORCE 10 tO 11 and a very heavy sea starting to break over the harbour wall, Acting Coxswain Thomas Devenny had set watch at Troon lifeboat store on the morning of Thursday October 18, 1984. At 1150 heintercepted a message from the fishing vessel Golden Years on VHP radio telephone.

She was disabled and drifting on to a lee shore and was requesting lifeboat assistance. Attempts to tow her by her sister ship had failed.

Thomas Devenny immediately telephoned Clyde coastguard to ask them to page the lifeboat crew and inform the station's honorary secretary. At 1202 Troon's 44ft Waveney class lifeboat, Connel Elizabeth Cargill, slipped her mooring and headed out of the harbour with Acting Coxswain Devenny at the helm.

Intermittent rain meant visibility was poor and the wind was still a southsouth- westerly storm force 10 to violent storm 11. High water at Troon was at 1850. Clear of the harbour, the lifeboat headed north at best possible speed.

Further intercepted messages indicated that Golden Years was two or three miles north of the harbour. Communications with Clyde coastguard were established on VHP radio and visual, VHP direction finding and radar watches were set.

At about 1207 the acting coxswain altered course to the west to gain more searoom; at the same time two-way VHP radio contact was established with the fishing vessel and her position was confirmed. She reported that her engine was disabled and that she was streaming ropes from astern to try to reduce her rate of drift on to the lee shore.

After clearing Lappock Rock, a positive VHP direction finding bearing was obtained and Thomas Devenny altered course to the north north east to intercept the casualty. Minutes later the fishing boat came into view on the starboard beam, she was just over half a mile from the shore and a mile north of Lappock Rock. The lifeboat headed inshore, to the north of the fishing boat, and then turned and ran slowly past her stern in an unsuccessful attempt to pick up one of the trailing ropes.

She then stood off so that her coxswain could reassess the situation. Looking at the conditions and circumstances of the fishing boat, he decided that the only way to save lives was to tow her clear. The lifeboat was manoeuvred up weather of Golden Years and the crew floated a nylon securing line down on to the casualty. A tow was secured at 1245; the weather was still stormy.

To gain searoom the fishing boat was towed slowly south west for ten minutes. A special braided nylon rope was then passed and the tow resumed at best possible speed towards Troon harbour.

The lifeboat and tow entered harbour at 1315 and the fishing vessel was safely berthed. Ten minutes later the lifeboat was back on her mooring, refuelled and ready again for service.

For this service the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum were awarded to Acting Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic Thomas Devenny. Vellum service certificates were awarded to Acting Second Coxswain RobertHannah, Acting Motor Mechanic Peter McClure and Crew Members John Forshaw, Ian Hillhouse, Alistair McLaughlin and David Seaward..