Lost and Found (1840)

On Monday 1^st June the north of Scotland experienced a sudden storm, the morning being calm and mild but by early afternoon a full gale was blowing from the northwest, and this gale was accompanied by showers of cold, drizzling sleet. Yes, sleet in June! 

When the gale arrived most of the fishing boats were at sea and were caught out by the suddenness of the storm. Fortuitously the boats from Cove, Findon and Portlethen had the advantage of high land which kept the sea relatively smooth for a considerable distance out to sea and most of the boats from these village managed to make safe passage to their home harbours. 

Unfortunately for two Portlethen boats they were driven out to sea and few people expected them to be seen again. However during the following morning, when the weather had calmed considerably, they were seen to be making their way landwards and to the joy of their gathering friends and relations, they were brought ashore safely. Over the course of the previous day’s storm they had been driven out to sea for a distance of forty miles.