Oban lifeboat on a yo-yo of three shouts already today

Oban Lifeboat had quite a morning of it today - Sunday 22nd July..

The volunteer crew were tasked to three separate incidents within a few hours.

At 9:18am to lifeboat was launched to assist the yacht Theodore which was dragging it’s anchor in Puilldobhrain Bay. This bay, on the mainland south of Oban on the Sound of Lorn, is a sheltered anchorage but can have a dodgy bottom causing problems with anchor dragging.

Oban lifeboat arrived onscene within 20 minutes at 9:38am, to discover, fortunately, that the skipper of the yacht had managed to get the situation under control.

The Lifeboat therefore returned to station – but just as the crew were finishing securing her in her berth, information came in that a small dinghy was adrift in Oban Bay.

So off went Mora Edith Macdonald on task number two.

She immediately relaunched to locate and assist the dinghy, which was found to be ashore at Dunollie Castle. The Lifeboat then asked that Oban Coastguard Rescue team attend to secure the dinghy and set off for home again, across the bay.

The crew returned the lifeboat to her berth at 10:45am – and just as they were leaving the station. the lifeboat was requested to launch for a third time.

On this occasion the sailing yacht Misty was dragging its anchor near the North Pier in Oban Bay and was in imminent danger of going aground.

There was no indication at this stage as to whether or not there were any people on board the yacht; so the
lifeboat immediately went to the yacht and put two of the volunteer crew on board.

They ascertained that there were no people on board, so they recovered the anchor and secured a line to the lifeboat, which then towed the yacht to a mooring where it was secured.

The lifeboat then returned to station and was ready for service again at 11:44am after a busy mornings work for the
volunteer crew.

This time they managed to get home without a recall – to date.