SCOTT'S FEAT IN DINGHY NEWS of a boy in the water clinging to an upturned boat on 12th April led to the Mumbles, Glamorganshire coxswain, Mr. Derek Scott, B.E.M., taking out a dinghy as with the strong ebb tide which was running he realised the need for speed in reaching the casualty before the boy was swept into the rough water off Mumbles head.

Leaving his wife to call out the IRB crew, Coxswain Scott crossed the road to where a dinghy with an out-board motor was lying. This was quickly launched and the coxswain made for the casualty. The dinghy was 10 ft. 6 in. long with a 4 h.p. outboard motor.

On arrival off Mumbles pier, the coxswain was told by onlookers that the casualty had drifted out towards Mumbles head. The sea conditions were deteriorating rapidly towards the Head due to the tide race. By keeping close to the rocks the coxswain avoided the worst of the sea, but then the casualty was sighted in the middle of the race.

The sea conditions off Mumbles head were much worse as the tide running out of Swansea Bay is deflected to the eastward of Mumbles head, where it meets the main stream of the tide running to the south west. This causes a very confused sea which in this case was accentuated by the fresh easterly wind and the swell. The sea was very short and steep with breaking crests.

Wave height was very variable, with the largest waves up to 10 feet high. The area of breaking sea was fairly localised off the Head, but there was another patch of broken water to leeward where the sea was breaking over the Mixon Shoal.

When the casualty was sighted in the tide race he appeared to be in a very exhausted condition and the coxswain was doubtful whether he would survive the battering he would receive in the race, and with the prospect of further broken water to leeward, the coxswain decided to attempt a rescue under the difficult conditions. He had great difficulty in handling the dinghy in the confused and unpredictable sea and several times had to throw himself forward to prevent the dinghy from being thrown bow over stern. All the time a precarious balance had to be maintained to prevent a capsize. When the casualty was reached he was found to be in an exhausted condition and able to do little to help himself.

The coxswain tied him to the dinghy with a line while he removed the engine to clear a space where the casualty could be hauled aboard.

Having done this an attempt was made to lift the casualty, but this proved impossible until advantage was taken of the stern sinking in the trough of a wave, when the momentum enabled the casualty to be dragged on board. The coxswain and the casualty landed backwards in the dinghy under the impetus of the lift. During this time the dinghy had been shipping some water and there was about 9 in. in the bottom of the boat. When the coxswain had recovered he shipped the engine and headed shore wards. By this time the dinghy had cleared the worst of the broken water in the race.

In response to telephone calls by the coxswain's wife, the IRB was launched at 9.55 a.m.

and went to the aid of the coxswain and the casualty. The IRB skirted the outside of the race and found the dinghy as it was coming clear of the race. The casualty was transferred to the IRB and the canoe recovered. Both boats then returned ashore, using the inside passage between Middle Island and the mainland. The survivor was landed at 10.60.

The casualty, Mr. Alun Bessette, had put to sea from Sketty in his 15 ft canoe at 8 o'clock that morning. He was wearing a wet-suit and a life-jacket. He had paddled out to the Fairway buoy, then realising that conditions were deteriorating, had turned for the shore. Shortly afterwards, at about 8.30, the canoe had capsized and Mr. Bessette was unable to right it.For this action Coxswain Scott was awarded He tried swimming, towing the canoe, but was hampered by his life-jacket. The wind and tide carried him close to Mumbles pier, where he was able to attract the attention of some fishermen, who raised the alarm. When found by the coxswain Mr. Bessette's life-jacket had come loose and was not supporting him properly.

a bar to the silver medal which he won following the service by the Mumbles life-boat to the motor vessel Kilo on the 17th November, 1963. Coxswain Scott is also holder of the Institution's bronze medal, awarded following the service by the life-boat to the dredger Steepholm on the 3rd October, 1968..