ANSTRUTHER LIFEBOAT

Service Data for Year 2000 (latest first)

(All times LOCAL)

ANSTRUTHER LIFEBOAT
Service Number       21/2000
DATE: Saturday 30th December, 2000

10:44 SHS contacted by MRSC Forth asking for participation in search formissing local man
   in Pittenweem / St Monans area. Strong sunlight meant excellent illumination of shore
   from seaward and at approx. low watera large area of beach would be exposed.
   Launch agreed after discussion.
10:47 Crew paged.
10:57 ALB launched.
11:00 ALB entered search area subsequently proceeding to search Pittenweem harbour and
   then to liase with police and coastguard personnel.
11:30 ALB departed Pittenweem harbour to continue search in designated seaward area.
12:30 Lifeboat search stood down by MRSC Forth. Nothing found.
12:40 ALB entered Anstruther harbour, mooring alongside for later rehouse.

WEATHER IN AREA
Wind: NNW Force 3
Sea: Smooth; slight swell
Weather: Fine
Visibility: Good

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ANSTRUTHER LIFEBOAT
Service Number: 20/2000
DATE: Tuesday 21st November, 2000

22:52 SHS contacted by Forth Coastguard requesting launch to investigate flare sighting.
          Position betweenNorth Berwick and Anstruther. Dunbar lifeboat already
          proceeding tosouth of area to conduct radar search. Immediate launch agreed.
23:04 ALB launched from carriage.
23:30 ALB firing white para flares on passage to search area, providingillumination for night
          vision equipment.Radar scrutinised.
23:39 ALB in search area.
00:06 ALB fired last para flare. Nothing found.
00:17 ALB returning to base.
01:40 ALB rehoused and ready for service.

WEATHER IN AREA:
Wind: SW 5-6
Sea: Moderate
Weather : Overcast, moderate to heavy rain.
Visibility: Moderate

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ANSTRUTHER LIFEBOAT
Service Number: 19/2000
DATE: Sunday 19th November, 2000

12:42 SHS in contact with Forth Coastguard re F/V Lea Rig III,broken down EbyN from
Crail.Immediate launch agreed.
12:44 Crew paged.
12:55 ALB proceeded from carriage at approx 1 hour 20 minutesbefore low water.
13:21 ALB alongside casualty who had by now drifted approx 0.4miles NE of original
position.
13:26 Casualty in tow by ALB, destination Anstruther.
14:27 Casualty alongside Anstruther harbour.
14:45 ALB crew stood down for later rehouse (due tide conditions).
17:00 Crew remustered.
17:40 ALB back at slipway.
18:07 ALB rehoused and ready for service.

WEATHER IN AREA:
Wind: W Force 5
Sea: Moderate
Weather : Partly cloudy
Visibility: Good
Windchill: Minus 4 deg Celsius

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ANSTRUTHER LIFEBOAT
Service Number: 18/2000
DATE: Saturday 28th October, 2000

14:05 ALB launched on exercise.
14:14 MRSC Forth requested ALB divert to Crail area to escorttwo fishing vessels back to
port.Increasing wind and sea conditions hampering progress of both vessels.
14:40 Both fishing vessels safe. ALB proceeded with exercise.

WEATHER IN AREA:
Wind: SE Force 7
Sea: Moderate to Rough
Weather : Rain
Visibility: Moderate

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ANSTRUTHER LIFEBOAT
Service Number: 17/2000
DATE: Monday 16th October, 2000

15:46 SHS paged by Forth Coastguard requesting immediate launch to aid of disabled 21ft
           creelboat ELLIE A off St Monans windmill. The vessel was not equipped with marine
           VHF radio,the occupants making their predicament known by mobile phone.
           Immediatelaunch agreed.
15:52 ALB launched to proceed.
16:06 ALB alongside casualty already under tow by F/V Alert fromStMonans. In view of
           weatherconditions and the slow progress of the tow, coxswain escorted both vessels
           to thesafety of St Monans harbour. It it has to be said that in poor visibilitythe
           absenceof marine VHF aboard the casualty would preclude use of the lifeboat's
           accurateVHFdirection finding facility.
16:25 ALB returned to Anstruther harbour to await suitable tideconditions before
           rehousing.
18:00 Crew remustered.
19:19 ALB rehoused and ready for service.

WEATHER IN AREA:
Wind:    WSW Force 5
Sea:       Moderate
Weather : Overcast
Visibility:   Good

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ANSTRUTHER LIFEBOAT
Service Number: 16/2000
DATE: Monday 25th September, 2000

12:27 MRSC Forth notified SHS small boat off the Salt Pans at St Monans in danger of
           driftingashore, person waving for assistance. Launch authorised.
12:28 Crew paged for immediate launch.
12:35 ALB launched form carriage.
12:46 ALB on scene. X-boat prepared but swell conditions on rockyshore too dangerous for
           deployment. Speedline subsequently fired.
           Wind was on-shore and with the last of the flood still running, a surgeup to about
           2 metres and the casualty ranging on the rocky shore, the situationwas critical.
12:49 Tow line being connected. Just as the tow took up, the casualty was swamped by two
           seas and began to break up. The two men aboard scrambled ashore.
12:53 Casualty reported sunk.
12:59 ALB unable to recover vessel. Proceeding St Monans harbourtoliase with Coastguard
           and casualty crew.
13:17 Departed St Monans harbour bound Anstruther.
13:37 LB back at slipway.
14:03 LB rehoused and ready for service.

WEATHER IN AREA:
Wind:         ESE Force 4
Sea:           Moderate with up to 2 metre swell.
Weather : Partly cloudy.
Visibility:   Good

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ANSTRUTHER LIFEBOAT
Service Number: 15/2000
DATE: Sunday 10th September, 2000

17:12 DLA paged by MRSC Forth requesting immediate launch to assist disabled cabin
           cruiser 0.5 miles SW of Anstruther hr, in danger of drifting ashore.
17:25 ALB proceeding.
17:28 ALB alongside casualty establishing tow. Vessel was bythis time only about 15 metres
           from rocky shore, its anchor only just holding.
17:33 Casualty under tow and clear of rocks.
18:00 Casualty safely moored at harbour pontoons. ALB mooredin outer harbour. Crew
           standing down. Rehouse muster 22:30. (Tide constraints)
22:30 Crew reassembled.
23:15   ALB rehoused and ready for service.

WEATHER IN AREA:
Wind:           E’ly Force 1
Sea:               Calm
Weather :      Fine
Visibility:      Good

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ANSTRUTHER LIFEBOAT
Service Number: 14/2000
DATE: Sunday 3rd September, 2000

14:12 SHS notified by Forth Coastguard of current search (since13:12) for 8 year old boy,
missingin vicinity of Lady's Tower, Elie. CG coast teams searching. HelicopterR131
scrambled,police involved. Lifeboat launch to participate agreed.
14:25 ALB launched to proceed. Dinghy in process of being brought toreadiness .
14:30 Coastguard notified ALB missing boy found ashore, safeand well.
14:40 ALB returned to harbour, mooring alongside to await tide.
16:30 Crew reassembled to rehouse.
16:50 ALB to slipway.
17:27 ALB rehoused and ready for service.

WEATHER IN AREA:
Wind: SSE Force 3
Sea: Slight
Weather : Partly cloudy
Visibility: Good

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ANSTRUTHER LIFEBOAT
Service Number: 13/2000
DATE: Sunday 27th August, 2000

21:51 ALB launched to assist yacht LADY C, 4 p.o.b., becalmedand with auxiliary engine
failure, 063 DEG T, 3.2 NM from Anstruther.
22:06 ALB arrived alongside casualty.
22:15 LADY C taken in tow by lifeboat, bound Anstruther.
22:43 Casualty safely alongside West Pier, Anstruther harbour.
23:28 ALB rehoused and ready for service.

WEATHER IN AREA:
Wind: NW Force 1
Sea: Smooth
Weather : Mist
Visibility: Moderate to poor

********************************

ANSTRUTHER LIFEBOAT
Service Number: 12/2000
DATE: Thursday 24th August, 2000

20:02   MRSC Forth notification: f/v GUIDING STAR disabled with fouled propeller, SE from
            Isle of May. Requires tow.
20:10   ALB launched to assist.
20:50   ALB alongside casualty.
20:58   Casualty, net still fouling propeller, in tow byALB at5.5 KT, heading Pittenweem,
            ETA 23:00.
22:20   On observation from ALB, casualty's net appearedto have come free and was
            subsequently successfully recovered by hand by the fishing vessel's crew. This then
            enabled her to proceed with caution under own power after tow released.Lifeboat
            continued to stand by.
22:53   Guiding Star entered Pittenweem safely. ALBstooddown.
23:08   ALB returned to base.
23:35   ALB refuelled and ready for service.

WEATHER IN AREA:
Wind: W’ly Force 2
Sea: Slight
Weather : Fine
Visibility: Good

********************************

ANSTRUTHER LIFEBOAT
Service Number: 11/2000
DATE: Saturday 12th August, 2000

13:26   SHS telephoned in boathouse by MRSC Forth requesting assistance in search for
            possible occupants of upturned 12ft rowing boat found adrift offWest Wemyssand
            towed into the harbour there. The vessel contained two fishing rods, oneof which
            might possibly have been a childs, with baited hooks. The exact positionwhere found
            was uncertain.   Kinghorn Atlantic 75 on scene searching.Oarand other debris
            located. Helicopter R 138 refuelling at Edinburgh and returning tosearch area.
            Immediate launch agreed. Crew already assembled for routine exercise.
13:32   ALB launched.
13:50   Designated search area and starting point positionpassed to ALB by MRSC Forth.
14:30   ALB on scene at commencement of search point. Kinghornlifeboat (Atlantic 75)
            and Coastguard inflatable coordinated in parallel track search by ALB.
15:55   Search of designated area completed. Nothing found.
16:15   Surface search terminated. ALB RTB.
17:00   ALB entering Pittenweem harbour for refuel and tolie up overnight.
            Tide at Anstruther too low to rehouse. Enquiries ashore by coastguard andpolice
              failed to identify port of origin or owner of casualty. ALB services may be required in
              the area again if any persons reported missing.
17:15   Crew dispersed.

Sunday August 13
11:00   ALB crew remustered.
11:30   ALB departed Pittenweem bound home port.
11:36   ALB entering Anstruther harbour.
12:15   ALB rehoused and ready for service.

WEATHER IN AREA:
Wind:    Calm
Sea:      Calm
Weather : Cloudy
Visibility:   Good

********************************

ANSTRUTHER LIFEBOAT
Service Number: 10/2000
DATE: Friday 4th August, 2000

17:41 Hon Sec paged by MRSC Forth indicating 999 call reporting 2 persons fishing and
          apparently cutoffby tide between Babbet Ness and Craig Hartle. They were not
          showing signsof distress. St Andrews MRU proceeding ETA 15 - 20 minutes.
          Situation discussed and in view of still rising tide, immediate launched authorised.
17:51 ALB launched, crew having assembled meantime.
18:05 St Andrews Coastguard MRU on scene. Contact made with fishermen from shore.
           They required no assistance. ALB stood down.
18:20 ALB re-entered home port.
18:58 ALB rehoused, refuelled and ready for service.

WEATHER IN AREA:
Wind: W Force 4
Sea: Slight
Weather : Partly cloudy
Visibility: Good

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ANSTRUTHER LIFEBOAT
Service Number: 09/2000
DATE: Friday 28th July, 2000

14:31 Hon Sec paged by MRSC Forth indicating f/v CHARLOTTE broken down just
           northof Babbet Ness (between Fife Ness & St Andrews) posn 56-19.76N
           002-40.95W.No other vessels in area to assist. Visibility 200 metres. Vessel mooredto a
           creelend. Immediate launch requested and agreed.
14:33 Crew paged.
14:40 ALB launched.
15:25 ALB alongside casualty. F/V LENA on scene also.
15:31 F/V LENA has CHARLOTTE in tow bound St Andrews harbour. As neither vessel
           had radar, coxswain decided to escourt both to St Andrews.
16:12 Both f/vs safely in St Andrews harbour. ALB returning toPittenweem.
17:18 ALB entering Pittenweem harbour. Rehouse later at Anstrutherwhen tide will allow.
           Crew dispersed.
21:15 Crew remustered.
21:47 ALB departed Pittemweem bound home port.
22:37 ALB rehoused and ready for service.

WEATHER IN AREA:
Wind:           NE Force 3
Sea:             Slight
Weather :     Fog
Visibility:      Poor

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ANSTRUTHER LIFEBOAT
Service Number: 08/2000
DATE: Friday 14th July, 2000

15:49 MRSC Forth notified Hon Sec 17ft open fishing boat LITTLE NELLIE broken down
          1/2 mile westof Shell Bay, Elie. Vessel at anchor reqires tow. Immediate launch
          requested andagreed.
15:55 ALB launched to proceed.
16:26 ALB alongside casualty having used VHF DF to locate vessel (whichhad radio aboard).
16:35 Vessel LITTLE NELLIE under tow by ALB, proceeding Anstruther.
17:38 Casualty moored alongside Anstruther harbour. ALB proceedingPittenweem until
          tide permitsrehousing.
17:50 ALB alongside Pittenweem harbour. Crew dispersed
23:00 Crew reassembled
23:20 ALB departed Pittenweem for home port.
23:56 ALB rehoused and ready for service.

This service highlights the prudence in maintaining sensible safetyequipment on a small boat: lifejacket, flares, anchor and sound warp (withoutwhichthe vessel would have drifted ashore), and importantly in this incident,aVHF marine radio, this enabling the coastguard to be advised of the predicament, given a position, and facilitating prompt location by the lifeboat usingthe VHF direction finder.

WEATHER IN AREA:
Wind:         WNW Force 3 -4
Sea:           Smooth
Weather : Partly cloudy
Visibility:   Good

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ANSTRUTHER LIFEBOAT
Service Number: 07/2000
DATE: 4th July, 2000

20:43 MRSC Forth requested launch to investigate approx 3.5 metre blue hulled dinghy
          observed driftingoff Chapel Ness, Elie, with apparently no one on board. Launch
          agreed.
20:55 ALB launched on service. Requested to proceed to casualty toconfirm no persons
          aboard and tolookfor signs of recent occupation.
21:11 Service terminated. Dinghy towed into Elie Hr. by local boat.Coastguard ashore
           confirmed no persons aboard and empty.
21:22 ALB berthed in Pittenweem Hr. overnight due to tide constraints at Anstruther

5th July
07:00 Crew remustered.
07:11 ALB proceeding from Pittenweem to home port.
07:50 ALB rehoused and ready for service.

WEATHER IN AREA:
Wind: Easterly Force 1 - 2
Sea: Calm
Weather : Cloudy
Visibility: Good

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ANSTRUTHER LIFEBOAT
Service Number: 06/2000
DATE: Monday 26th June, 2000

13:13 SHS paged by MRSC. Two canoeists reported in difficultiesand in the water on east side Isle
of May. Immediate launch.
13:16 ALB exit boathouse
13:19 Coastguard stood down ALB. Persons reported ashore. Boat notlaunched from carriage.
13:30 ALB rehoused.

WEATHER IN AREA:
Wind:          ESE Force2-3
Sea:           Slight (1 to 1.5 metre swell east side of May)
Weather :    Partly cloudy
Visibility:     Good

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ANSTRUTHER LIFEBOAT
Service Number: 05/2000
DATE: Sunday 25th June, 2000

17:48 Hon Sec paged by MRSC Forth indicating small open boat, four persons aboard, close
           to rocksanddrifting ashore 400 yards west of St Monans church.
17:50 Crew Paged
17:59 ALB launched from carriage. Tide approximately three hrs flood.
18:12 ALB arrived on scene with X-boat inflated. By this time the vessel, a DORY 16 with a
           55 h.p.outboard engine which had failed, was ashore. It was quickly establishedthat
           all personson board were accounted for and on the beach. Coastguardpersonnel
           arrivedon scene and confirmed that no medical assistance was required.
           None ofthe casualty's occupants were wearing protective clothing, and therewere neither
           buoyancyaids/lifejackets, flares nor an anchor aboard.
18:35 ALB left the scene, no assistance could be given from seaward.
18:45 ALB back in harbour.
19:16 ALB rehoused and ready for service.

WEATHER IN AREA:
Wind: SE Force 4-5
Sea: Slightto Moderate
Weather : Partly cloudy
Visibility: Good

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ANSTRUTHER LIFEBOAT
Service Number: 04/2000
DATE: Saturday 20th May, 2000

0803 DLA paged by Forth Coastguard requesting lifeboat assistance forf/v NORTHERN
         STAR, brokendown approx 2 miles SE May Island.
0805 Crew assembly signal.
0810 ALB launched from carriage at 3.7 hrs ebb tide.
0813 ALB radio contact made with casualty.
0848 ALB alongside casualty and establishing tow, destination in viewof tide conditions -
         Pittenweem.
1015 ALB with casualty in tow entering Pitteweem harbour.
1030 Casualty alongside, Pittenweem harbour. Lifeboat crew standingdown until tide
         conditions permitrehousing at Anstruther.
1330 ALB crew re-mustered.
1346 ALB departed Pittenweem bound home port.
1350 ALB entering Anstruther harbour.
1425 ALB rehoused and ready for service.

WEATHER IN AREA:
Wind: SE Force 1-2
Sea: Smooth
Weather : Partly Cloudy
Visibility: Good

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ANSTRUTHER LIFEBOAT
Service Number: 03/2000
DATE: Tuesday 2nd May, 2000

1349 Hon Sec paged by MRSC Forth requesting launch to assist two anglers considered in
         danger of being washedoff rocks at Fife Ness. Casualties visual from Coastguard Ops
         Room.
1341 Crew assembly signal.
1348 Anstruther lifeboat proceeded.
1420 As lifeboat approached the casualty location, visibility was reduced to nil in sea fog,
         drifting in quicklyfromENE.
1421 Casualties in sight.
1423 At casualty datum.
1427 Left casualty datum after ascertaining that no assistance wasrequired, and that the
         anglers were contentto stay put. By this time the tide was ebbing.
         Coincidentally thefog bank extended west along the Fife coast.
1510 Lifeboat returned to harbour, in the meantime guiding in two localboats who whilst not in
         distress were nevertheless caught out by poor visibility.
1532 Lifeboat ready for service.

WEATHER IN AREA:
Wind:ENE Force 3
Sea:Slight
Weather : Fog
Visibility: Nil

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ANSTRUTHER LIFEBOAT
Service Number: 02/2000
DATE: Friday 21st April, 2000

1301 SHS notified by MRSC Forth: creel boat off Billowness (Anstruther) 1 p.o.b indicating distress (waving). Launch requested and agreed.
1302 Pagers activated.
1312 ALB launched from lower slipway.
1316 ALB alongside casualty, 16ft open creel boat SIRIUS, machineryfailure.
1318 ALB with Casualty in tow, proceeding Anstruther.
1322 ALB and casualty entering harbour.
1337 ALB back to slipway.
1400 ALB rehoused and refuelled.

WEATHER IN AREA:
Wind: WSW 4
Sea: Slight
Weather : Squally showers
Visibility: Good

********************************

ANSTRUTHER LIFEBOAT
Service Number: 01/2000
DATE: Tuesday 11th January, 2000

0722 SHS notified by Forth Coastguard fishing vessel taking water
          3.5NM SE MayIsland. Immediate launch requested and
          authorised.
0738 ALB launched at half-ebb tide. Proceeded to casualty (with
          pumps aboard)aided by VHF DF. Coxswain assessing
          situation duringpassage.
0811 ALB alongside casualty. Two crew and two pumps placed
          aboard. Thisdeployment not considered a danger to LB crew
          as free surfaceeffect on casualty not yet causing instability.
0827 Pumps coping well and reducing water level rapidly. Leak
          source traced to a faulty valve and the problem quickly
          remedied. Casualty proceeding to Pittenweem under own
          power with ALBescourt.
0942 Casualty and LB about to enter Pittenweem harbour.
1000 ALB moored afloat alongside Pittenweem harbour. Crew
          returning toAnstruther by road. Rehousing to take place later
          (due tide conditions at Anstruther).
1700 Crew reassembled at boathouse.
1725 ALB departed Pittenweem harbour on passage home base.
1735 ALB back on slipway.
1825 Lifeboat rehoused and ready for service.

WEATHER IN AREA:
Wind: SW Force 4
Sea: Moderate
Weather: Cloudy
Visibility: Good

SERVICE No 02/2000 above 01/2000. Latest service is top of list.

End of page

Reference Tables: Wind and Sea/Swell State Tables

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