Unusual exercise

“Earlier this summer, on a day cruise from Kyle of Lochalsh on the paddlesteamer Waverley we were surprised when between Rum and Eigg a coastguard helicopter appeared behind us and proceeded to lower a crew member on to the rear of the ship, only to retrieve him a few minutes later,” writes John Crichton of Forfar.

“Strangely, two years ago, we witnessed an identical exercise on the car ferry between Kirkwall and Westray in the Orkneys.”