Oban Lifeboat launch to yacht aground – the famous Quest II

This afternoon (21st September) the Oban RNLI lifeboat launched at 12.48 to assist the 34 foot yacht Quest II with four people aboard. She was aground on rocks at Camus a Nathais in Loch Linnhe.

By the time the lifeboat arrived on scene, however, the casualty had refloated herself and was heading to Linnhe Marine at Appin where she will be hauled out and her hull examined for damage.

The Mora Edith Macdonald (lifeboat) met up with her at the mouth of Loch Creran, confirmed that she was not making water and returned to Oban.

The lifeboat was refuelled and ready for service again at 13.50 hours – just under an hour start to finish.

So far so good. But For Argyll did a bit of googling around.

We think that this must be the Quest II in which Gerry Hughes from Glasgow, a teacher at St Vincent’s School, became in 2005, the first deaf sailor to cross the Atlantic single handed – in the OSTAR race from Plymouth to Newport, USA.

Leaving the boat in Newport at the end of the race, he went back across the pond to Newport Yacht Club, Rhodes Island in June 2006 to meet up with two friends, Jeff McWhinney and Mark Roberston, where they prepared the yacht, Quest II, for the home voyage.

23 days after setting off they arrived back at Troon – a time close to the passage record set by Quest II’s  previous owner. They would have broken this record had they not had several days of little or no wind during their passage.

Imagine the number of yachts and people with interesting histories that Oban lifeboat has come into contact with in interesting circumstances. Buy former crew member, Willie Melville’s recently published book on the history of the Oban Lifeboat. He’s giving the proceeds to the service he loves so, as well as a good story, it’s a great cause. Email Willie at: treshnish3@hotmail.co.uk