For nearly 75 years, an all weather lifeboat has launched from Castlebay on the Outer Hebrides island, often into ‘diabolical’ seas (see 1979). Today the station operates the largest class of lifeboat, a Severn class.

1942 Crew Member John McNeil died of pneumonia after the boarding boat had capsized following a service on 22 January.

1943 A Silver Medal was awarded to Coxswain Murdo Sinclair for rescuing 15 crew from the steamship Urlana aground under high cliffs. After nine hours, in gale force winds, continual rain and heavy seas, the lifeboat managed to tow a motor boat with the survivors in to Carbost on the opposite side of Loch Bracadale.

1979 During a service to the coaster Lone Dania the 52ft Barnet class lifeboat R A Colby Cubbin No 3 capsized on 18 November. The Islay lifeboat, a Thames class named Helmut Schroder of Dunlossit, also capsized whilst on service to the same casualty. Both lifeboats righted successfully without loss of life.

It was the first time that either of these classes of lifeboat had capsized on service and the RNLI’s inquiry found that ‘… there was no failure of the lifeboats or their equipment which contributed to the capsizes’.

The winds were gusting to force 12 and the waves were around 30ft high with a 10 per cent chance of the waves being 60ft high. These seas were described by the investigator as ‘diabolical’ and the coxswain of the Islay lifeboat stated that the weather was as bad as he had experienced in 17 years in the lifeboat service.

1988 An Arun class lifeboat arrived at the station.

1991 A new boat store was built providing a workshop, crew facilities and a kitchen.

1994 A new Schat launching davit for the boarding boat was installed on the quay.

1998 The station’s new Severn class lifeboat Edna Windsor arrived in June and a new alongside berth was completed in October.

2006 A Bronze Medal was awarded to Coxswain Donald MacLeod after he and his crew escorted a damaged yacht to safety on 21 June. In severe gale conditions and with 11m seas breaking over the lifeboat, Coxswain MacLeod went through the notorious Sound of Barra to intercept the yacht, then guided it back to safety through the Sound of Sandray.

Coxswain MacLeod also received a Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman for a service on 20 June to two other yachts.

Dangerous waters and appalling conditions tested the knowledge, nerve and skill of Barra coxswain Donald MacLeod and his crew in helping to save two sailors on a badly damaged yacht. The crew braved 30ft high waves and force 9 gales on 21 June last year when they went to the aid of the Vijaya, a 12-metre aluminium racing yacht which was taking part in the round the UK, Ireland and Shetland yacht race.

Volunteer lifeboat coxswain Donald MacLeod is to be awarded an RNLI bronze medal for his part in the rescue, the first Scottish crew member to have been awarded a medal in five years. Other volunteer RNLI crew from the station are to receive Medal Service Certificates for their crucial part in the rescue. They include: Deputy Second Coxswain Ranald MacLean, mechanic, Angus MacNeil, Second Mechanic, Lachlan Douglas and crew members Iain Boyd and Michael MacNeil. The Vijaya had been picked up by a huge breaking wave which turned the boat over and allowed water into the cabin, disabling all electronic navigation aids. The skipper, who suffered a bad gash on his forehead, called the emergency services for help and the Barra lifeboat managed to reach the yacht.

According to coxswain Donald MacLeod “getting there was horrendous, you wouldn’t have gone there other than in an emergency. We have been out in worse conditions, but the water is so shallow in this area so there is not much sea room to play with”. Paul Jennings, Scotland’s RNLI Training Divisional Inspector, praised the crew, “Using considerable local knowledge, experience, nerve and skill. Coxswain Donald MacLeod piloted the RNLI lifeboat through particularly dangerous waters in appalling weather conditions to intercept the damaged yacht with an injured skipper. Then without the use of navigational aides he escorted the yacht through the narrow approaches into calmer waters and safety maintaining position despite the lifeboat being knocked down by large seas”

Concerned by the conditions on the Sound of Barra, Coxswain MacLeod contacted his father who lives overlooking the Sound of Barra to ask him which of the three known rotes would be the best option. His father replied that it did not matter as conditions were as bad as they ever get.

Coxswain MacLeod was concerned that a passage through the Sound of Barra would be extremely dangerous for the yacht and was reluctant to take the lifeboat through, but concerned that the yacht skipper, without local knowledge might head to head for the sound to reach safety, he decided to pass through the Sound of Barra to intercept the yacht. He also ordered all five crew to strap into their seats, which later saved them from injury when the lifeboat was knocked down.

Despite the lifeboat being knocked down, Coxswain MacLeod maintained his position and led the yacht into more sheltered waters of the Sound of Sandray and into Castlebay. The yacht was kept alongside the lifeboat at the lifeboat berth until the following morning when the weather had abated and the skipper had recovered enough to check the damage and move her to a mooring.

The Dutch skipper praised the Lifeboat crew for their courage. “The lifeboat crew were able to escort us back to Castlebay by the safest route and helped to moor the yacht. They were very helpful and the RNLI is a top service”.