Pictures From Saturdays Unst Rescue

[Guest Shetland Coastie]

Some pictures courtesy of Lerwick Lifeboat, of the job we had on Saturday in apalling weather conditions. The FV Shemara II went aground on a sandbank in Baltasound harbour in the northern Shetland isle of Unst. Fellow FV's (fishing vessles) Valhalla, Ocean Quest, Alison Kay and the small creel boat Kathleen attempted to get her off without success (the Valhalla grounding herself in the process and then breaking her crank casing). Eventually managed to tow her off with the combined efforts of the Alison Kay and the Lerwick Lifeboat. Baltasound is a sheltered "Voe" or inlet which faces due east, although as you can see, it made little difference that day. At the time these pictures were taken the wind was gusting in excess of 70 knots.

First one is of the Kathleen (AH68) in the foreground with the Valhalla (left) and the Alison Kay (right) alongside Baltasound Pier:

Next is a picture of the Lerwick Lifeboat "Michael and Jane Vernon" manouevering in the harbour upon arrival:

Next up, a picture of the Lerwick Lifeboat going stern first in preparation for attaching the tow to the Shemara II:

View from the Lifeboat wheelhouse window as she crests a big one!

Hopefully this gives you an idea of the sort of weather we were dealing with on Saturday and what we sometimes ask our colleagues in the RNLI to do!

[Cakie]

Blimey o'riley, the last one makes me feel a bit queasy

Hats off to the lot of you for your efforts, makes me glad to have my sad boring life in the office

[Zenarcher]

Great photos these big waves look fun and bouncy!

[Guest Shetland Coastie]

And of course once the job was done the lifeboat had to come back to Lerwick, punching her way right into the teeth of the weather which was between South and South Westerly, sea state "very high" (between 9 & 14m) and Violent Storm Force 11 winds. Not my idea of fun!!

[Zenarcher]

And of course once the job was done the lifeboat had to come back to Lerwick, punching her way right into the teeth of the weather which was between South and South Westerly, sea state "very high" (between 9 & 14m) and Violent Storm Force 11 winds. Not my idea of fun!!

When you say it like that it doesnt sound like fun.

[BARRY]

amazing sea boats is that a tyne class just had a look at the picture and realised that it is the severn class thats the biggest in the fleet, what a crackin boat would not mind skippering that one

[johnholmes]

Some pictures courtesy of Lerwick Lifeboat, of the job we had on Saturday in apalling weather conditions. The FV Shemara II went aground on a sandbank in Baltasound harbour in the northern Shetland isle of Unst. Fellow FV's (fishing vessles) Valhalla, Ocean Quest, Alison Kay and the small creel boat Kathleen attempted to get her off without success (the Valhalla grounding herself in the process and then breaking her crank casing). Eventually managed to tow her off with the combined efforts of the Alison Kay and the Lerwick Lifeboat. Baltasound is a sheltered "Voe" or inlet which faces due east, although as you can see, it made little difference that day. At the time these pictures were taken the wind was gusting in excess of 70 knots.

First one is of the Kathleen (AH68) in the foreground with the Valhalla (left) and the Alison Kay (right) alongside Baltasound Pier:

Next is a picture of the Lerwick Lifeboat "Michael and Jane Vernon" manouevering in the harbour upon arrival:

Next up, a picture of the Lerwick Lifeboat going stern first in preparation for attaching the tow to the Shemara II:

View from the Lifeboat wheelhouse window as she crests a big one!

Hopefully this gives you an idea of the sort of weather we were dealing with on Saturday and what we sometimes ask our colleagues in the RNLI to do!

yuk, especially the last one

you can tell I'm a born sailor!

[Guest Shetland Coastie]

amazing sea boats is that a tyne class just had a look at the picture and realised that it is the severn class thats the biggest in the fleet, what a crackin boat would not mind skippering that one

Yep excellent sea boats the Severn, although, due to the hull shape, at speed in weather such as the above there can be a tendency for the sea to go from under her and she comes down with an almighty wallop! Hence the reason lifeboat crews are strapped in and wear crash helmets on passage!

[Rich_Clements]

Those photo's are amazing. I really admire the people that do that sort of thing.

[Rustynailer]

I think they are a bunch of nutters personally.

Thank god for nutters.

Russ.

[Louby]

Wow, thanks Bob! it actually shows what the guys actually have to put themselves through to save people!

[Icer]

Wow! I would have liked to have been on one of those boats!

[Cookie]

brilliant images mate

[Koppite]

Amazing pics S.C. Hats off to the lot of you for the great job you do!