“Struggling” paddleboarders sparked the launch of an RNLI lifeboat amid concerns for their safety. Portree’s brand new Shannon class lifeboat was scrambled to Loch Gairloch at 8pm after a member of the public reported seeing two paddleboarders “far out at sea that appeared to be struggling to get back to the shore”. The lifeboat then stood down and returned to Skye, docking at its base in Portree shortly after 10pm. Portree RNLI Coxswain, Stuart Nicolson, said: “The RNLI volunteers here at Portree were able to put their many months of training into practice last night, with the first launch for RNLB Peter and Mary as the official Portree lifeboat. “The member of the public at Loch Gairloch did absolutely the right thing in calling 999 and asking the Coastguard, after spotting the paddle boarders far out at sea.