So there I was checking out the slipway at Balintore and..what the heck is that in the harbour mouth?
It appeared that one of the prawn fishing boats was returning in the early hours on Thursday morning (23/10/03) and just as he was about to enter the harbour his engine stalled. Just as this happened a large wave hit the boat side on and pushed it over. All the crew were okay and were able to 'walk off' onto the rocks at low tide.
The MCA were there and I spoke to the coastguard chappie. He said it was safe to take my boat out past the 'wreck'. When I took 'The Pentland warrior' out it appears that the locals thought I was from the coastguard because I was wearing a drysuit and had a lifejacket!
Anyway the next night there was a very low tide at bout 03.00 hours. The skipper went out to the wreck in a small rowing boat with a petrol generator and a pump. They managed to pump out the boat and refloat it when the tide came in. I spoke to him the following day and he reckoned that he'd have the engine stripped, dried out and running again within a week. However he was planning to fish from Cromarty harbour in the future!
RIB Saffron
