TWO MORAY FIRTH lifeboat crews were involved in a dramatic mission to rescue the crew of a veteran boat when it ran into trouble after featuring at the annual boat festival in Portsoy at the weekend.
Both the Buckie and Macduff launches were alerted when the crew of the ‘Sovereign’ reported their vessel was in difficulties shortly after leaving Portsoy.
The classic fishing boat – built in Fraserburgh in 1936 and which saw service in the Second World War – developed engine trouble and was left drifting in thick fog. Crew members were able to get out a distress call just before their boat lost all power on Sunday evening.
Macduff lifeboat coxswain Chassey Findlay said: “Visibility along the coast was less than 100metres and that, along with the large number of small boats at the Festival, made the search and rescue of the Sovereign more challenging.”
However, lifeboat crews did locate the vessel and tow her safely back to Portsoy so that she could undergo repairs.
The Sovereign was the oldest working fishing boat in the UK when she was purchased and restored by the Fishing Heritage Trust in 2009. She had sailed to the Moray Firth last week to take part in the 22nd annual boat festival in the town.