Disabled and drifting with a fouled propeller, the fishing boat Faith Ann was in trouble in storm force winds, 50 miles off Orkney. Soon after midday on 26 April the Shetland Coastguard requested the launch of the Stromness lifeboat on a demanding service that was to last until the following dayAs soon as the lifeboat Violet, Dorothy and Kathleen cleared Stromness harbour and entered Hoy Sound, she hit rough and confused seas. Once clear of the west coast of Orkney the swell was up to 12m. Stuart Taylor, the mechanic, said afterwards that it was the worst conditions he had experienced in his 33 years of serving on lifeboats. Coxswain John Banks recalls 'looking up at green water,' leaving Hoy Sound.

The lifeboatmen were thankful that the Faith Ann was not in immediate danger. They knew it would be hours before they reached the casualty as the lifeboat could only manage 12 knots in the rough sea.

Afterwards, John commented: 'The crew performed as a team, and stood up marvellously well under the conditions and length of service'.

Four hours after leaving Stromness, the lifeboat reached the fishing vessel and her crew of five.

Because of the angle of the fishing vessel in the sea, John realised that he would have to adopt an unorthodox approach to pass a tow. In a difficult manoeuvre, the lifeboat was run down sea towards the bow of the Faith Ann. It worked at the first attempt. The lifeboatmen were able to pass the tow line and the fishermen secured it.

John decided to take the Faith Ann towards Scrabster, to avoid the sea conditions in Hoy Sound.

The weather was deteriorating and there was little difference in distance between the two harbours: both were around 50 miles away. The gruelling tow commenced.

After only 20 minutes the tow parted when the tyre it was attached to ripped in half, despite the slow speed of 6 knots. Any slower and the Severn class lifeboat would have been impossible to control in the sea conditions. Over the next 5 hours the tow kept parting and had to be reconnected six times, testing the lifeboatmen's patience and endurance. One of the most dangerous moments of the rescue came while reconnecting the tow one time, when a particularly large wave almost landed the fishing boat on the deck of the lifeboat. Disaster was prevented by excellent boat handling by John and the skill and seamanship of his crew. Each time the tow was reconnected swiftly and safely.

Nine hours after launching, John realised that the tow line length was getting dangerously short and requested the launch of the Thurso lifeboat.

The Arun class lifeboat The Queen Mother launched from Thurso with Coxswain William Munro in command. It battled through 10-12m seas to reach the Stromness lifeboat soon after 11pm, 9 miles west of Scrabster. The Thurso lifeboat took over the towand was able to reduce the towing speed to under 4 knots, while maintaining controi, with less pressure on the tow line. John later praised the actions of the Thurso lifeboat crew: 'They did their duty in a very professional and seamanlike manner.' The Stromness lifeboat assisted with a safe entry into Scrabster harbour by attaching a stern rope.

By 3am, after a 14-hour marathon service, Faith Ann was safely moored and crews of both lifeboats took a well deserved rest.

In recognition of his seamanship skills and determination, John Banks received the RNLI's Thanks of the Institution on Vellum. In response, John said he felt: 'honoured, not only for myself but for the crew and station, and the guild which works tirelessly on our behalf- John Caldwell, the divisional inspector of lifeboats, Scotland, praised the 'exemplary' efforts of all the lifeboatmen involved in the combined rescue: 'Both crews are to be commended for their determination and endurance.' The Stromness crew received Vellum Service Certificates and the Thurso crew received letters of appreciation from Andrew Freemantle, the RNLI's Chief Executive.Strom neit THE LIFEBOAT Severn class lifeboat ON-1236 Violet. Dorothy and Kathleen Funding: Legacy of Mi»s VJ Matton THE CREW Coxswain John Banks Crew members Fred Brack Callum Maclver Neil McGibbon Colin Mowat Alan MacLeod David Sutherland Stewart Taylor David Wish art UFEBOAT STATION Established 1867 Previous medals: 2 Silver, 2 Bronze Thur»o THE UFEBOAT Arun class lifeboat ON-1149 The Queen Mother Funding: Legacy of Miss SS Gray and RNLI funds THE CREW Coxswain William Munro Crew members Duncan Munro Gordon Munro William Miller James Brims John Webster Scott Youngs on LIFEBOAT STATION Established i860 Previous medals: 7 silver, 3 bronze THE CASUALTY Crew ot five on the Faith Ann, a 17m commercial fishing vessel THE CONDITIONS Weather Rain Visibility Poor Wind: NW force 9-10 Sea state Very rough.