CASUALTY FOUND 20FT FROM ROCKY LKK SHORK Crew rescued from fishing vessel in Force 11 winds and total darkness Coxswain/Mechanic Thomas Ralston of Mallaig has been awarded the Institution's Bronze medal for rescuing two men and their fishing boat in darkness and winds of Force 11 last autumn.

In his report Tony Course, divisional inspector of lifeboats for Scotland South, said: 'This was a difficult and dangerous service. Coxswain Ralston displayed great determination, courage and a high degree of skill throughout.' The crew of the lifeboat that night, Assistant Second Coxswain Albert McMinn, Acting Assistant Mechanic George Laurie, Second Assistant Mechanic Derek Fowler and Crew Members E. MacLellan, Roderick MacKenzie and Alasdair Sinclair, have been awarded bronze medal service certificates.

At 1824 on Thursday, 27 October 1988 Mallaig lifeboat station received a call for help from the fishing boat, Galilean, which was disabled and dragging her anchors close to the southern shore of Loch Nevis.

Just eight minutes later Mallaig's 52ft Arun class lifeboat The Davina and Charles Matthews Hunter slipped her mooring and set out on service, Storm force The weather had deteriorated in a very short space of time and it was now overcast with northerly storm force winds and heavy northerly seas driving into the harbour.

Visibility was affected by spray.

Coxswain Ralston left the harbour at slow speed to allow the crew to secure themselves safely on deck, and this was just as well as minutes later Assistant Mechanic Lawrie was washed overboard off the port quarter by a large wave and only saved by his lifeline.

He was quickly pulled back on board.

Once clear of the harbour the coxswain headed ENE into Loch Nevis, maintaining best speed in the heavy sea conditions, andthe crew aboard the lifeboat prepared for a tow as soon as conditions would permit.

At 1840 the lifeboat arrived at the casualty to find her slowly dragging two anchors close to Bo Ruag rocks, with her stern some 20ft off the shore. The conditions were atrocious with Force 11 northerly winds, a moderate sea and visibility seriously affected by driving spray.

The coxswain was concerned about submerged rocks which he knew were in the vicinity of the fishing vessel and decided to follow her route so far as possible, bow first to keep his propellers in the deepest water.

One crew member was placed on the radar to give guidance and the rest instructed to transfer the towline forward.

The lifeboat was carefully manoeuvred down wind heading south towards the anchored casualty, and the crew were able to pass the tow line by hand.

Tow transferred When it was secure the lifeboat went astern, taking up the strain while the casualty slipped both her anchor cables.

Coxswain Ralston carefully moved astern until the radar showed the shoreline to be some 600ft away, and the tow was then quickly transferred to the lifeboat's stern.

The lifeboat could now work upwind to gain as much shelter as possible from the weather shore before heading south towards the harbour entrance. A second tow line was floated to the casualty and secured as a precaution.

The lifeboat arrived off Mallaig Harbour to find sea conditions too dangerous to attempt entry with a tow, and the coxswain advised Oban Coastguard that the casualty would have to be towed to Inverie in Loch Nevis, so the lifeboat headed north once again.

At 2049 the casualty was finally secured alongside a moored landing craft at Inverie, and the lifeboat was able to return to Mallaig with the two survivors aboard.

She arrived at 2130, landed the survivors, refuelled, and was ready for service..