The volunteer crew of Largs RNLI Lifeboat launched at 10pm on Monday evening following reports of a vessel having grounded at Farland Point on Great Cumbrae.

The Lifeboat located a 7 metre motor boat, with two people aboard, and a work boat from Millport standing by with local coastguard providing onshore support.

The Lifeboat put a crew member aboard the casualty vessel to inspect for damage and also put a salvage pump onboard.

The vessel had suffered some damage and had taken on a small amount of water. As the tide was making it was decided that the lifeboat would attempt to tow casualty into deeper water whilst maintaining a watch for any significant ingress of water and hand over tow to the workboat.

As the work boat was single manned it was felt prudent to supply additional manpower to this vessel so Lifeboat returned a uplifted a further two crew members to assist.

The casualty vessel was then towed off stern first by the Lifeboat and the tow passed to the work boat. The lifeboat then escorted the other vessels into Millport and assisted in mooring casualty at Millport Pier.

The Lifeboat then returned to Station, was refuelled washed down and rehoused at 1.30am on Tuesday.

Although sea conditions were flat calm during this service, operating within shoal areas and in darkness requires a significant degree of skill which was demonstrated by both the Lifeboat crew and the person on the workboat.