The Barnabus Mackerel
Lugger was towed into St Peter Port by the lifeboat after getting into
difficulties some 40 miles west of Guernsey.

On passage from Paimpol in Brittany to Mousehole after being
part of the ‘Fete Maritime’, the 40ft vessel, built in 1881, had encountered rough seas in
about force five or six winds.

The engine had
failed and the skipper believed that they had run out of fuel. With some of the
crew feeling ill, a call for help was relayed by a French Fishing boat to
Crossma who in turn contacted Guernsey Coastguard.

The vessel was brought into St Peter Port
where it was found that the fuel gauge was faulty and the ship had indeed run
out of fuel.

Guernsey Harbourmaster Captain Peter Gill, blocked the movement of
the boat until an engineer had confirmed its seaworthiness.

The vessel eventually left Guernsey
bound for Cornwall.

Photo credit: Tony Rive