Shipwrecks
There have been many shipwrecks around the ragged coastline of Papa Stour. Tiptans Skerry in Hamnavoe has claimed Dutch, French, German and Norwegian ships over the centuries.
In 1967 the Aberdeen Trawler ‘Juniper’ ran aground in Lyra Sound at the bottom of the 200 ft cliffs. The Aith lifeboat arrived in time to save the 12 man crew and the coxswain was awarded the silver medal for this very daring rescue.
Less happy is the story of another Aberdeen trawler, ‘Ben Doran’ which foundered on the terrible Vee Skerries in March 1930. It took the lifeboat from Stromness in Orkney, 120 miles away, three days to reach the scene. But despite being able to see the last crew members clinging to the rigging neither they nor the local boats were able to effect a rescue, due to the atrocious weather conditions.
The SS Highcliffe of South Shields, a 4000 ton steamship carrying cargo of iron ore from Narvik to Immingham ran aground in fog off Forewick Holm 6th February 1940. Although both ship and cargo were lost all the crew were rescued by the Aith lifeboat, The Rankin. Today the wreck, lying in 80ft of water, is a favourite spot for divers and is rich in marine life.
The Elinor Viking is the most recent ship to run into trouble around the coast of Papa Stour. In December 1977 in storm force winds the vessel hit the Vee Skerries tearing a large hole in her side. With the Aith lifeboat unable to get near to effect a rescue, a British Airways Sikorsky helicopter winched all the crew to safety despite storm force winds. The helicopter crew later received a number of awards for bravery. After this incident a lighthouse was erected on the Vee Skerries in 1979.