The Trafalgar nearly meets its Waterloo
A BOAT named Trafalgar almost met its Waterloo when it got into difficulty in Ardminish Bay last Saturday.
The Islay lifeboat was called out at 4.30pm after the 25-tonne motor cruiser became stranded on a sandbank off the island.
It is believed the boat attempted to berth alongside the pontoon but found it unsuitable due to the strong easterly wind, and when looking at other options, she ran onto the sand.
With the wind pushing her further onto the sandbank, the RNLI was called.
John Bannatyne, skipper of the Gigha ferry, kept the MV Lochranza close by in case its assistance was needed.
Lifeboat crew members, who worked alongside the Gigha Coastguard team, tried to pull the Trafalgar off but couldn’t move her so it was decided to wait for the rising tide.
High tide
They tried to get her off every two hours but only succeeded at high tide and with some effort in doing so.
The Trafalgar’s crew returned to Port Askaig in the lifeboat, having safely moored the boat, as they wished her to be checked out by a boatyard before they continued with their voyage.
The lifeboat arrived back on station at 2am.
Mr Bannatyne said: ‘Great effort by the Islay lifeboat team getting the cruiser refloated, patience and diligence brought a happy conclusion.’
Don Dennis, who supplied the Courier with a photograph of the incident, said: ‘There didn’t appear to be any risk to people, but it did provide a prolonged period of entertainment for campers and other folk at The Boathouse.’