48 Hours of Gale (from page 250) Broughty Ferry: 1LB launched at 1700 in choppy seas and a fresh southeasterly wind to help a capsized dinghy one mile east of the station, The crew of three were landed and their boat towed to the beach.

Southend-on-Sea: At 2048 the ILB launched to help a 21' converted lifeboat which was aground in a gut just off the pier. Seas were breaking over her and she was in danger of being pounded on a lee shore and of being swamped.

The ILB crew helped to put out an anchor and then landed the owner and his thirteen-year-old son.

September 2 Falmouth: At 0600 flares were seen in Falmouth harbour. The lifeboat set out at 0612 on a falling tide at high water.

The sea was slight and a near gale force south-south-east wind was blowing. The yacht Hitch Hiker with a crew of one was in danger of going ashore after breaking her moorings. She was reached at 0631 and was towed to safety.

Plymouth: At 0905 the Coastguard reported that the catamaran Snow Goose with a crew of three was moored in a dangerous position off a lee shore at Kingsand in worsening weather; at 1330 her moorings parted. The lifeboat sailed at 1345 in a rough sea and storm force west-south-west wind. She rounded Drake's Island and the western end of the breakwater into the full force of the storm, setting course for the casualty at full speed. A line was quickly passed and the catamaran taken in tow. The safety of Millbay Docks was made by 1440.

Tenby: The ILB was asked at 1620 to collect four people from a yacht in Tenby Roads. This was done and they were landed at station. Their yacht later broke her moorings and smashed up against the rocks.

Lowestoft: At 1658 the Coastguard reported that the catamaran Cay Fandango had engine trouble five miles from Cross Sand Lightvessel 10 miles east of Lowestoft and was being escorted by the German MV Mono Rosa. The Lowestoft lifeboat got under way at 1714 in rough seas and a near gale force south-westerly wind. The casualty with her crew of four was reached at 1905 and was taken in tow, reaching the safety of Lowestoft harbour at 2315.

Lymington: At 1910 the ILB was on excerise but operations were cancelled because of a substantial increase in wind to force 9 plus, with a rough sea. Following this, a dinghy was sighted awash with seas breaking over her on a lee shore. The ILB towed her with her crew of two back to Lymington..