TWO YACHTSMEN WERE plucked to safety from their stricken boat just off the Covesea Lighthouse near Lossiemouth on Wednesday evening.
The RNLI Lifeboat from Buckie rushed to the scene after a red flare was spotted at shortly after 6pm – the Coastguard helicopter was also scrambled.
Police were also deployed to the scene but thankfully both men were rescued from their 35-foot yacht which it had become stranded at the Halliman Skerries.
A spokesman for the Buckie Lifeboat said last night that they made their way to the scene in rough sea conditions: “A red flare was sighted to the west of Lossiemouth at the Covesea Lighthouse area.
“The vessel was found ashore inside the surf line on its side – due to the depth of water and the weather conditions the lifeboat could not get close enough to rescue the crew from seaward.
“The Coastguard Helicopter was also on the scene lowering a winchman who assisted the two crew ashore – sadly, the boat could not be saved.”
Rescue services were eventually stood down at 7.20pm with an RNLI spokesman in Aberdeen saying: “The two people were uninjured and taken into the care of the Coastguard rescue teams.”