Two under tow AT 1209 on August 21, 1973, the honorary secretary of Sheerness, Isle of Sheppey, was informed by Warden Point Coastguard that a yacht had been sighted aground off the Red Sand area, bearing 050° three to four miles from Warden Point, and that Mansion Coastguard helicopter had been alerted; he replied that the lifeboat would launch immediately. The wind was north east by north, force 5, with a moderate to rough sea; the day overcast with showers. High water at Sheerness was predicted at 1807.

While the 46' Watson lifeboat Gertrude, built in 1946, was heading eastward from Garrison Point, the Coastguard called up Coxswain C. H.

Bowry to tell him that the helicopter was over the yacht Bosun (26' Bermudan rigged) but that her crew had indicated that they did not need help; their boat had now refloated and was at anchor.

Nevertheless, through the Coastguard, the honorary secretary instructed the lifeboat to continue to the yacht as the helicopter was returning to base and the prevailing weather was producing a lee shore situation in very shallow water.

At 1253 Bosun was sighted under way, with foresail only, steering a north-westerly course. Coming alongsidealongside half an hour later, Coxswain Bowry was told that the yacht had damaged her rudder pintle when aground on Spile Bank, but jury wires had been rigged. Assistance was emphatically refused.

Just as he was turning to make the return passage, Coxswain Bowry sighted a red flare to the south west, close under Eastchurch Cliff's. Telling Warden Point Coastguard that he was going to investigate, he altered course and a few minutes later it was seen that a large motor cruiser was aground in the breakers. Hearing this, the Coastguard once again alerted the Mansion helicopter.

The lifeboat was taken close up wind of the new casualty, a 45' convened molor fishing vessel, Gentlemaid, wilh Ihree people on board, and Coxswain Bowry assessed lhal ihe boal was in imminenl danger of breaking up in ihe pounding surf. By now, 1330, Ihe wind was north easl force 6, wilh short, rough, breaking seas over Ihe sandflals.

The lide was 1J hours flood lo weslward.

As Ihe waler was loo shallow lo approach Gentlemaid stern first veering on Ihe anchor (if Gertrude's slern had gone aground, she would nol have had Ihe power to low Gentlemaid inlo deeper waler), Coxswain Bowry drove Ihe lifeboal ahead on lo Ihe sand and used Ihe engines lo keep Ihe slern up lo windward.

Three rockel lines were fired lowards Gentlemaid, bul her crew of Ihree, in danger of falling overboard, were unable lo relrieve Ihe lines.

Crew Member Malcolm Keen volunleered lo go overboard wilh a line. The crew benl all mooring warps into one long line, Malcolm Keen inflated his lifejacket and, wilh the line around his waisl, waded 200' lo Ihe casually Ihrough the breaking seas in up to 4' of water. Gent/emaid's crew would not let go their holds on Ihe boat and Malcolm Keen made fast the lowline alone.

Meanwhile, Ihe helicopter had arrived al Ihe scene and landed on Ihe adjacent cliffs lo watch Ihe lifeboal operalion.

Coxswain Bowry lowed Gentlemaid into deeper water, turned the lifeboal, shortened the low and sel off on the relurn passage leaving Crew Member Keen aboard Ihe casually lo lend Ihe tow line. Gentlemaid was unable to get her engines started as Ihe batteries were flat and a considerable amounl of waler had been laken aboard while she was being lowed off ihe flals slern firsl.

Al 1420 Bosun was again sighled, soulh of Ihe Medway Channel. She was wallowing and her crew waving to atlracl allenlion. Upon closing the yachl, Coxswain Bowry was lold thai the rudder had now been lost and Bosun had no auxiliary power. Her crew of three refused to abandon her as ihey feared her loss on Ihe lee shore, so Coxswain Bowry manoeuvred the lifeboat and low downwind, allowing Bosun lo drifl on lo Gentlemaid, whereupon Malcolm Keen was able to pass another low line.

The lifeboal compleled Ihe passage to Sheerness at reduced speed wilh the two boats towing in line astern, arriving al Ihe berth in Ihe Greal Basin at 1516.

For this service Ihe lhanks of ihe Inslitution inscribed on vellum was awarded to Crew Member Malcolm Keen, and framed lellers of lhanks signed by Ihe Inslilulion's Chairman, Commander F. R. H. Swann, CBE, RNVR, were senl lo Coxswain/Mechanic C. H. Bowry, Second Coxswain G.

Mills, Assistant Mechanic B. Durrani and Crew Members A. Washford, C. Austin and V. Slupple..