The Wick Lifeboat, Princess Marina, was launched at 3.40pm to search for the fishing boat, Girl Kathleen, of Helmsdale, with the skipper/owner Ian Innes on board. In the pitch dark, with heavy seas and squally showers, the lifeboat-men searched an area 23 miles south of Wick, near Badbea, where it was believed that the vessel had gone ashore. Nothing could be seen in the inky blackness and the search was called off at 10.30pm, the lifeboat and her crew remaining at Helmsdale overnight and resuming the search at 6.00pm the following morning.

The wreck of the Girl Kathleen was eventually found, but, although a thorough search was made, there was no trace of Mr.Innes and the lifeboat returned to Wick, arriving back twenty-three hours after setting out.

Location of loss cited as 58.9.33N, 3.33.00W.