Two rescued after boat capsizes off Angus coast

24.2C with rain in the morning clearing to a sunny, breezy afternoon.

A good courgette harvest from the containers in and out of the greenhouse this morning. Also harvested the last of the 2nd early potatoes from the big containers beside the veg beds.

Maeve the Deerhound and I waited until after lunch to go for our walk today. By that time the rain had cleared and the sky was blue.

As we turned the corner at the top of the road and started to walk up towards the church I looked down over the field to the sea. I saw what looked like a bigger than usual boat sitting just off Westhaven. I hoped to see what boat it was once we had got that far. Little did I realise what had been happening in the morning.

We went our usual route down the field and through the two little fields to the beach. Everything looked quiet, with boats lying at their moorings. Then, as we got closer to the Fishermen's huts, I could see an upturned boat's hull at the outermost mooring.

As we reached the Fishermen's huts the owner of 'Valhalla VI' came ashore in his dingy and was met by what turned out to be Journalists from The Courier newspaper. I walked along a little further and could clearly see it was 'Shamara II' lying upturned at the mooring.

As the reporter returned along the beach to the car park I spoke to him and he was able to tell me that both the skipper and his crewman were fine. They had climbed on to the upturned hull when the boat capsized at sea towards Easthaven. He said that 'Valhalla VI' had come alongside and picked up the men.

It appears that 'Shamara II' was towed back to Westhaven and was moored. If and when it will be righted remains to be seen.

Top is the scene from the car park.
Bottom left, 'Shamara II' upturned at her mooring.
Bottom right, journalists interview the skipper of 'Valhalla VI'.

The story on The Courier's web page this afternoon reads ...
" By Richard Watt, 2 August 2013 2.46pm.
Two men had to be rescued by the coastguard after the boat they were on capsized off Carnoustie.

The RNLI lifeboat from Arbroath was scrambled, along with crews from Broughty Ferry and Carnoustie.

The vessel was towed in to nearby Westhaven Harbour, although it was closest to Easthaven Harbour when it got into difficulties.

Neither man sustained any injuries after the incident at 11.15am on Friday."

... and in the Guide and Gazette (Carnoustie local paper):

"By Johnston Ralston. Published on 02/08/2013 15:40
A capsized boat off the coast at Westhaven was attended by the Arbroath lifeboat crew today (Friday).

The Guide & Gazette received notification via Twitter this afternoon that a boat had capsized near to Westhaven and that two crew had been brought ashore by another boat out of Westhaven.

A spokesperson for the RNLI was able to confirm that the Arbroath lifeboat crew did go out and assist with a capsized fishing vessels.

We will have more information for you as it becomes available to us."

UPDATE: Guide and Gazette
Father and son rescued off East Haven

By Johnston Ralston
Published on 02/08/2013 16:59
The father and son crew of a fishing boat which capsized off East Haven this morning (Friday) are in good health according to the RNLI.

At around 11.15 a.m. the Arbroath Lifeboat volunteers were paged to attend a 30 foot fishing boat which had capsized approximately one mile off the coast at East Haven.

According to the RNLI website which publishes details of emergency launches both the all-weather and inshore lifeboats were launched at 11.18 and 11.19 a.m.

The two men aboard the capsized vessel were picked up by another fishing boat which was in the area.

The lifeboat arrived on scene at approximately 11:35 a.m. and assisted with towing the capsized vessel into West Haven.

Arbroath Lifeboat's full-time mechanic Allan Russell said: "he two guys in the water were helped by the fact that they were wearing lifejackets and it was really good that the nearby fishing vessel was able to assist.

"We assisted with the tow and then stood by in case further assistance was required."

Both casualties were in good health despite the incident.

An HM Coastguard rescue team was waiting on the beach to render assistance if needed.

A spokesperson for Carnoustie HM Coastguard said: "Shortly after 11 a.m. today HM Coastguard were notified to reports of a small fishing vessel that had overturned off East Haven.

"Carnoustie coastguard officers and both Arbroath lifeboats were deployed and both fishermen were safely recovered and brought back to shore."