Sent in by John Kinsman, operations manager Coastwatch St Monans, east Fife
Lifeboat rescue
A stricken fishing boat with three people on board was towed to safety by two Fife lifeboats in appalling conditions just off east Wemyss in west Fife. The boat suffered engine failure after a rod got caught round it’s propeller in atrocious seas. The alarm was raised by the people on board and lifeboats from, Kinghorn and Anstruther raced to the rescue around a mile off shore. The fishing boat was safely towed into Methil harbour there were no casualties.
A spokesman for HM coastguards said the alarm was raised just before 7pm and both lifeboats were launched and Leven coastguard team put on standby. The lifeboat crews reached the fishing boat and managed to secure a line to tow the vessel the vessel to Methil harbour where they were met by the coastguard team.
The rescue took around three hours.
A spokesman or the Anstruther lifeboat said, “Our brave volunteers launched in horrendous conditions with wind reaching force 10 to assist a vessel in trouble off east Wemyss. Lifeboats from Kinghorn and Anstruther went to assist the vessel in trouble and towed it back to the safety of the still harbour.”
Anstruther lifeboat returned to Pittenweem to wait for the water to calm and returned to Anstruther lifeboat station the next morning. Kinghorn lifeboat returned to her station shortly after the rescue was completed.
Fishing season opens
Actor Burn Gorman and author David Profumo performed the ceremonial task of the opening the salmon fishing season on the river Tay. Burn who is set to feature in the next Hunger Games, and novelist, journalist and angler David made the first casts after popping champagne.
The ceremony was hosted by the Tay District salmon fisheries board, Meiklour fisheries and the local council. Anglers were led down from Meiklour boat house to the river by a pipe band. Speeches were given by Burn, David and local provost Sander McDade.
The provost then preformed the traditional blessing of the boat and river with a dram of Glenturret triple wood whisky before declaring it open for fishing. A good days fishing was had by all.
Two dogs rescue
Two dogs were rescued by lifeboat crew from Kinghorn. The first was to a young Labrador which had falling onto rocks near a local power station. The lifeboat raced to the location and found the young dog on the shoreline. They took it aboard the lifeboat and reunited with its grateful owner.
The second call the same day was to another dog that had run off and entered the water and swam out to sea.
The Lifeboat recovered the dog and brought it for to safety. The dog suffered paw injuries and the owners were grateful to the lifeboat crew.
Coastwatch St Monans
Coastwatch St Monans have had a busy January. The team was alerted to missing person in the Elie area. The team assembled and made their way to the coastal path and rocky shoreline. After a search lasting over an hour or so the missing person was located.
During the search Coastwatch St Monans deputy manager Anne Kinsman took a terrible fall causing injuries to her face and left knee. After hospital treatment Anne was allowed home where she is progressing well.
The team also did patrols during recent bad weather and their daily lookout duties from their lookout station. Coastwatch St Monans also welcomes a new volunteer to the team. Local resident Sue Johnstone a retired professor joined the team and is undergoing training.
Featured images shows the old St Monans windmill, which is now the Coastwatch operations base.