Some 14 red-faced Vikings drifting off the Fife coast were among the hundreds of people rescued by Scotland’s lifeboats last year.
Lifeboats from 45 Scottish stations were launched 1012 times in 2010, rescuing a total of 921 people.
Broughty Ferry and Kinghorn lifeboat stations were among the busiest last year each making 70 launches.
They were second only to Queensferry, where the lifeboat was launched 74 times.
The Broughty Ferry RNLI volunteer crew rescued 13 people over the course of the year while their colleagues in Kinghorn rescued 92 people. Of the Broughty Ferry launches, 31 were after dark.
Arbroath lifeboat was called out 37 times, making 25 rescues while Montrose lifeboat was launched 18 times, making six rescues.
Anstruther lifeboat was launched 26 times, rescuing 39 people.Vikings rescuedThe rescue of 14 would-be Vikings off the Fife coast in September was one of the most unusual rescues.
The stricken Vikings an Irish re-enactment group rather than genuine pillagers had been taking part in a charity event in Upper Largo last September when they ran into difficulties and had to be rescued by RNLI volunteer crews from Anstruther and Kinghorn.
RNLI Queensferry and Kinghorn lifeboat crews teamed up in June when they were needed to bring ashore more than 60 people attending an all-night music festival on Cramond Island.
In 2010 there were 145 false alarms with good intent including members of the public mistakenly thinking a Chinese lantern was a distress flare.
There were three confirmed hoaxes, and five suspected hoaxes.
Sailing boats accounted for the most number of incidents, with lifeboats being called out on 178 occasions, and 157 fishing vessels required assistance. There were 69 occasions when stranded or grounded boats needed assistance.
RNLI divisional inspector for Scotland Wave Crookes said, “We had a period of extreme wintry weather in Scotland and yet none of our lifeboat stations had a day off service because of the weather.
“That is thanks to the goodwill and determination of our crews around the coast who made sure they and the lifeboats were able to go out whatever the weather.”CommitmentOperations director Michael Vlasto added, “2010 will be remembered for a series of harrowing disasters overseas, but around our coastline our lifeboat volunteers and lifeguards have once again demonstrated their priceless commitment to saving lives at sea.
“However, that is only part of the story. Every one of the rescues carried out by the RNLI in 2010 was only made possible due to the incredible generosity of the public, even in these difficult times.
“I’d like to say thank you to all those who support us. It’s a team effort and, as a charity, we couldn’t do it without them. I can only ask the public to continue to keep backing us, because every penny counts.
“We are absolutely determined to make the best possible use of the funds the public entrust to us and we regularly re-examine everything we do.
“This ensures that we give the best possible support to our volunteers at the sharp end and who ultimately may face the worst the sea can throw at them.
“These new figures show just how much time our crews sacrifice to help those in trouble at sea-but in addition, they spend even more time training, which is a further measure of their dedication and commitment,” he said.