Spirit of Fairbridge, a 30m training schooner carrying 16 passengers, ran aground 10 miles north of Oban last night.

On an ebbing tide, the ship, which is owned Fairbridge Trust of Edinburgh, was towed off the sand by the Oban lifeboat before making its way to Oban Harbour in a Force 2 and calm seas.

Clyde District Controller, John Griffiths said: “It was the intention to evacuate all non-essential persons from the schooner and then tow the schooner to safety. However, as time was of the essence due to the falling tide, the crew of the lifeboat concentrated on pulling the ship off the sand and gravel as soon as possible.”