Three saved from disabled fishing vessel in gale and severe seasLerwick lifeboat left her moorings at 0500 on Friday 4 November 1994, a little over ten minutes after first hearing from Shetland coastguard that the fishing vessel Achilles had fouled her propeller and was drifting in heavy seas 23 miles ESE of Bard Head.

With visibility between two and three miles and a SE Force 8 gale creating a rough sea and steep swell in Bressay Sound the lifeboat cleared Bard Head and set course for the casualty.

Trough The seas increased, with waves now well over 30ft high and, at approximately 0545, with the wind gusting to 50 knots the lifeboat fell into a particularly deep trough - the force of the impact sheering the after generator mountings and snapping the satellite navigator aerial.

The generator was secured and the lifeboat continued, making 14 knots into the very rough head seas, until contact was made with the casualty and 20 minutes later, at 0650, Achilles was sighted. She was lying beam-on to the seas and rolling so heavily that her keel could be seen.

Coxswain Clark advised the skipper that he would try to take the vessel in tow, and manoeuvred into position off her bow. A very long tow line was passed to reduce snatching, with a car tyre in the line to provide even more 'give'. By 0725 the tow was connected, the strain taken and at 0755 the tow was under way.With the sea now astern, Coxswain Clark decided to tow the casualty to the northerly entrance to Bressay Sound, but at 0805 a particularly large wave from the port quarter laid the lifeboat nearly on her beam ends. The tew parted as the car tyre was torn apart.

As the tow had parted at the casualty end, the entire length of the lifeboat's line and also the line provided by Achilles had to be recovered by the lifeboat. The severe seas meant that the tow could not be recovered over the stern and the only option was to bring the lifeboat head-to-sea so that the capstan could be used to help recover it.

Pitching Careful and precise use of power and helm was needed as the coxswain kept the lifeboat head-to-sea, coming slowly ahead when needed to help recover the great length of line.

Conditions on deck were very difficult, with the lifeboat pitching heavily in the head seas which were now some 50ft high. Often the crew could only hang on as the lifeboat lurched violently and their progress was halted.

In the steep seas the casualty could not be seen for most of the time while the tow was gradually retrieved, but at 0850 the line was finally passed back to Achilles and reconnectedreconnected using a stouter tyre. At 0900 the tow was again underway.

Only five and a half knots could be maintained and it was not until 1225 that Soldian reported being two miles from the Outer Score.

Sea conditions had moderated slightly but the coxswain decided to delay shortening the tow until in more sheltered waters.

Achilles steering ability was limited, as the nets which had fouled her propeller were also around her rudder, but she was threaded safely through the maze of some 70 Klondikers anchored in the northern approaches to the Bressay Sound and by 1330 she entered the harbour.

Alongside Achilles could not be brought up alongside the lifeboat for a more controllable alongside tow because of the nets and fishing gear still trailing over her side. Coxswain Clark had to keep her astern and bring her into the Inner Harbour on a shortened tow. He used the force of the wind to push her down on to Fishmarket berth, checking the casualty's headway with the shortened tow and by precise use of the lifeboat's engines.

By 1400 the casualty was safe alongside.

Framed letters of appreciation from the Chairman of the Institution, Sir Michael Vernon, will go to Second Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic Peter Thompson and ere w members Ian Fraser, Ian Tulloch, Richard Simpson and John Sinclair for the part they played in the service..