Faster... and further The abilities of the new generation of fast lifeboats were highlighted on the very day that this page of The Lifeboat went to press - with Eyemouth's Trent Barclaycard Crusader going to the aid of a stricken fishing vessel no less than 700 miles to the east of the station in a southerly Severe Gale Force 9.

The 70ft vessel had lost all steering and, with no other vessels in the area able to help, the Trent was asked to go well beyond her normal operating range to assist.

Launching at around 1000 on 16 February the 100 mile passage to the casualty took just four and a quarter hours, with the tow back starting an hour or so later. With the casualty providing some propulsion - but no steering - the Trent was able to manage almost 5 knots for about 60 miles, until the tow parted and the fishing vessel ran over the line, fouling her prop.

It took an hour to untangle, by which time it had been decided that Barclaycard Crusader should return to station to refuel while Dunbar's lifeboat (also a Trent) took over.

Dunbar's Sir Ronald Pechell srtook over the tow at about 0200 on 17 February, bringing the casualty to within five or six miles of Eyemouth before Barclaycard Crusactefwent back out to finish the job.

The casualty was berthed safely just after 1100 on 17 February - more than 25 hours after the lifeboat first launched..