Fishing vessel aground AT 29 MINUTES PAST MIDNIGHT on Thursday, August 27, 1987, Moray Coastguard overheard the fishing vessel Constant Star inform Peterhead Harbour Control that she had run aground on the Skerry Rock and required immediate assistance. Peterhead lifeboat station honorary secretary, Captain Alexander Auld authorised the pagingsignal to call out the lifeboat crew.

Twelve minutes later Peterhead's temporary station lifeboat, The Royal British Legion Jubilee, a 48ft 6in Solent class, slipped her moorings and proceeded at full speed.

The wind appeared to be blowing strongly from the north north west as the lifeboat set sail. As she turned into the outer harbour the coxswain was able to see and head for the lights of the fishing vessel Challenger at the scene of the stranding.

Once clear of the harbour the lifeboat experienced the full strength of the north-easterly gale force 8. The sea was rough with crests reaching 30ft in height around the casualty.

Constant Star was found lying fast on a north-westerly heading without lights and listing 15 degrees to port. Large wave crests passed over her with only her white masts visible. Two fishing vessels were lying clear in shallow water.

The lifeboat crew used the searchlight and illuminating flares to search the vessel for any survivors as the lifeboat steamed slowly northward. The casualty was caught by a series of high waves and was swung to starboard, ending up on an easterly heading with an increased list to port.

The coxswain made three runs alongside the casualty but no survivors were seen. He reported to the coastguard that the liferafts were missing. A search began and Challenger reported seeing a light one mile south of Buchan Ness Light.

The lifeboat steamed to the south and found a light/smoke float and two lifebelts but no survivors. The Challenger found a liferaft but the raft was not fully deployed from its canister.

At 0122 a Sea King helicopter arrived from RAF Lossiemouth and was instructed by the coastguard to conduct a search out to eight miles south. Numerous fishing vessels in the area were also searching for the second liferaft.

Coxswain McLean decided to return to the casualty and posted two lookouts on the lifeboat's foredeck. The casualty's wheelhouse was almost demolished and the vessel was nearly submerged.

The coxswain took the lifeboat to within 100ft, as close as conditions would allow and the lookouts, James Clubb and Sid Chisholm, saw a movement near the wheelhouse. It was just then that a particularly large sea broke over the lifeboat causing, it was found later, injuries to three lifeboatmen.

The news of the sighting was transmitted to all concerned at 0159. The lifeboat took up station close to the south west of the casualty's stern in case of a mishap during the winching operation.

The helicopter arrived and the winchman was lowered down. He was almost washed overboard as he placed the survivors into the strops but in four double lifts the eight survivors were lifted off the vessel and landed ashore into the care of ambulancemen.

Peterhead lifeboat arrived back at station at 0225, was refuelled and ready for service at 0241.

Following this service, Coxswain/ Mechanic John McLean has been awarded the Thanks of the RNLI inscribed on vellum. Vellum servicecertificates have also been awarded to Acting Second Coxswain Sidney Chisholm, Acting Assistant Mechanic James Clubb and Crew Members Joseph Park, Alexander Stephen and Richard Smith..