Saturday night was a long and challenging one for Oban lifeboat crew who were called out in storm force winds to help vessels in the Firth of Lorn. The hectic night began as the lifeboat Mora Edith MacDonald launched at 10.30pm to aid a 36ft yacht with two adults and two children on board that had grounded after dragging its anchor in the Puilladobhrain anchorage, at the north end of the Isle of Seil.
The lifeboat left at 10.44pm, arriving on scene shortly after. With the yacht aground but in no immediate danger, it was decided to evacuate the family to await the rising tide. The lifeboat’s daughter craft, the XP boat, was launched and two crew members proceeded to the grounded vessel, evacuating first the two children and then the adults. With everyone safely on board, the lifeboat departed the scene for Oban at 12.10am, with the intention of returning later to refloat the vessel.
However, just as the lifeboat departed the scene, the Coastguard received two further requests for assistance. The first was a vessel in Loch Feochan, followed by a mayday from a small motor boat aground at the north end of Lismore.