Ireland Division Harbour tug to the rescue AT ABOUT NOON on Saturday, January 12,1974, the Royal Ulster Constabulary were told that a small dinghy was in difficulties off Ballgalley Head. Police Sergeant D. McCutcheon drove out to the Head and found that a man had set off from shore in a 12' GRP dinghy to pick up a friend's boat. He was now clear of the lee of the land, had lost at least one oar and the boat was being blown seaward.

The wind was west south west force 9 to 10 gusting 12 against the tide, causing a very confused sea; the height of thewaves was estimated as 4 to 5'. It was two hours after high water Larne.

The dinghy was fairly close inshore, and Police Sergeant McCutcheon, using the police car loud hailer, told the man to hold on and stay down in the boat.

Larne Harbour was informed of the situation and, at 1215, sent out a message on channel 16 to motor tug Dunosprey, Master Thomas Mahood.

Dunosprey turned for Ballgalley Head at full speed, driving into a very confused sea; with the tug rolling and pitching very heavily and taking a lot of water, the crew faced considerable danger.

At 1230 Dunosprey sighted the dinghy and by 1240 had recovered both man and dinghy. She had difficulty in recovering the man as on the first approach it was thought that he could help himself; he was, however, very lightly clad and because of the cold had lost the power of his hands. Dunosprey backed off and then came right alongside the dinghy, when it took the combined efforts of four of her crew to lift the man inboard. The tug backed off again, then came alongside to recover the dinghy. By 1310 Dunosprey had arrived at Larne and landed the survivor and his dinghy.

There is no doubt that to take a harbour tug alongside a small dinghy and to lift the occupant out without injury in the conditions prevailing demanded exceptional seamanship and shiphandling.

For this service a letter of appreciation signed by Commander F. R. H. Swann CBE, RNVR, chairman of the Institution, was sent to Thomas Mahood, Master of Dunosprey. William H. Kyle, mate, Malcolm Hall, chief engineer, Derek McKnight, second engineer, and deck hands John Richmond and Gavin McMurray received letters of appreciation signed by the director, Captain Nigel Dixon, RN.

North Eastern Division On fire A GLASS FIBRE cabin cruiser, Stella, was cruising in Bridlington Bay on July 14, 1974, about half a mile from the shore, when, at 1100, the passenger saw flames around the outboard engine and shouted a warning to the owner, whose back was to the engine. They could not get at the fire extinguisher and attempts to scoop water on to the flames proved ineffective; so, having jettisoned the spare cans of petrol, they both of them slipped into the water and clung to the side of the burning boat.

Richard and Reginald Tempest, two brothers, were out in their waterskiing boat when they saw the pall ofsmoke in the distance; realising what it meant, they set off at full speed to help.

Two other young men, David Head and John Winstanley, were preparing to launch their speedboat at Fraisthorpe when they also saw the fire; they immediately got under way and headed for the casualty.

There was a light variable breeze; the weather was fine and the sea smooth.

When the Tempest brothers arrived, just ahead of the other rescue boat, Stella was ablaze from stem to stern and both survivors were still clinging to her side. The heat was intense and the rescuers realised that there was a grave risk of the petrol tank exploding at any time. The Tempest brothers took their boat straight in to the casualty and the passenger, letting go the side of the burning boat, was lifted clear of the water.

The owner, who apparently could not swim, was reluctant to let go, even though he was receiving severe burns to his arms and hands. The young men in the second boat, which had now reached the scene, shouted to him to let go. Then a trailing ski tow rope from the first boat caught him and he let go of Stella and clung to the rope. Reginald Tempest jumped into the water to help him, but the men in the second boat called out that they would pull him clear; which they did.

Stella was now a blazing inferno. Her owner had just been recovered from the water when her petrol tank exploded, throwing burning debris over a wide area. The two speedboats were only about 8 yards away.

Both boats made for South Beach at full speed and the Tempest brothers, who had their car close by, took the survivors, each with burns, to Lloyd Hospital, Bridlington, for treatment.

For this service framed letters of appreciation, signed by Commander F. R. H. Swann, CBE, RNVR, chairman of the Committee of Management, were sent to Richard Harold Tempest, Reginald Wesley Tempest, David Head and John Winstanley.

Scotland South Division Dinghy adrift off Inchcolm AT 1644 on the afternoon of December 8, 1974, Queensferry honorary treasurer, who was deputising for the honorary secretary, was informed by the Coastguard that a man was in difficulty in a small dinghy off Inchcolm. The crew was assembled and Atlantic 21 6505 launched at 1700.

The wind was south west force 6 to 7 with a short, steep, breaking sea. The tide was one hour flood and against the wind. It was after dark, overcast and very cold.

The ILB headed towards Inchcolm and despite continued nursing of the throttles buried her head into the sea; at times she was completely swamped.

Near Inchcolm a particularly heavy sea hit her, carrying away the mast and shorting out the navigation lights and radio.

At about 1720 the ILB arrived off Inchcolm and, on hailing someone on shore, the crew were advised to close Swallow Craig rock. They fired a parachute flare and saw a man on the rock with the dinghy washed up at the base.

Despite the lee of the rock, Helmsman Ranald Mackay had some difficulty in closing. As he put the bow in, the two crew members, Gordon McAlpine and James Smith, jumped ashore with the painter, which was secured round a rock.

While Ranald Mackay fended off they helped the man into the ILB and then pulled the dinghy up above high water mark.

The survivor, the Inchcolm boatman who had put out in the dinghy to tend his boat and then lost an oar, was put ashore at the landing on Inchcolm at about 1740. Luckily he was suffering nothing more than minor exposure and lacerations of the hands.

By now it had started to hail, and on her way back to Queensferry the ILB was continually awash and swept byspray until some lee was obtained off St David's. She returned to station at 1845.

For this service framed letters of thanks signed by Major-General Ralph H. Farrant, CB, chairman of the Institution, were accorded to Helmsman Ranald Durness Mackay and Crew Members James Crichton Smith and Gordon Joseph McAlpine.

South Western Division Anchors dragging ON MONDAY MORNING, April 7, the Coastguard informed Padstow honorary secretary that a 90' beam fishing trawler, Elizabeth Ann Webster of 112 tons carrying a crew of six, had broken down with gear box trouble 17| nautical miles from the station on a bearing of 045°M.

It was feared that her anchors would not hold in the deteriorating weather and that she would be driven ashore by a south-west gale which was imminent.

The 48' 6" Oakley lifeboat James and Catherine Macfarlane was launched at 1111 to stand by the trawler on a flooding tide in poor weather; visibility was limited to between one and seven miles.

The sea was rough and the gale was by then blowing from the north west.

The trawler was reached by 1312. She was 1 nautical miles off shore. Her anchors were not holding and she was being driven by an inshore wind of up to force 7.

After consultation with her skipper, it was decided to tow Elizabeth Ann Webster back to Padstow Harbour. It was a tough tow with James and Catherine Macfarlane having to pull a vessel three times her own weight.

Padstow Harbour was reached safely by 1838. The lifeboat returned to her station and was rehoused by 1915.

Ireland Division Fire on the water THE GARDAI telephoned Howth honorary secretary at 2325 on Monday, June 9, to say a patrol car at Malahide had reported what appeared to be something burning at sea off the High Rock between Portmarnock and Malahide.

The honorary secretary looked out in that direction but saw nothing unusual.

It was a flat calm night and he telephoned Motor Mechanic F. Hendy, who said that a net fishing boat was sometimes in the vicinity at night.

The honorary secretary telephoned the Gardai again to report and while they were speaking the Malahide patrol car confirmed the fire and the request to investigate. The maroons were fired at 2347 and the 47' Watson lifeboat A.M.T. slipped her moorings at seven minutes past midnight. When she arrived in the area the Gardai patrol car flashing light showed the position, but there was no sign of anything which might have caused the fire.

After a thorough search for an hour and a half the honorary secretary instructed Coxswain G. McLoughlin to return. The lifeboat was back on station at 0220.

North Eastern Division Net in propeller AT 1640 on Friday, May 30, Humber Superintendent Coxwain B. W. Bevan heard from the Coastguard that the fishing boat Anina of Grimsby was drifting with a net in her propeller 11| miles south east of Spurn lighthouse. No other boats were in the area and there was a heavy swell.The 46' 9" Watson lifeboat City of Bradford HI was launched ten minutes later in a strong north by west wind and flood tide.

While on the way to Anina it was learnt that her skipper was suffering from chest pains. One of her crew made a link call via Humber Radio to a doctor, who diagnosed a heart attack and said the skipper needed hospital treatment.

As Anina had too much rigging and was rolling too heavily in the deep swell for a helicopter lift, and a tow would take some 5 or 6 hours, Coxwain Brian Bevan decided to take the skipper aboard the lifeboat and request a helicopter. This operation was carried out in very difficult conditions because the fishing boat had trawl doors slung on both her quarters and loose net and wires floating at her stern. She was laid broadside to the wind and was rolling heavily. The lifeboat approached on her port side and the sick man was transferred.

The lifeboat then set a north west course to rendezvous with the helicopter; it was now 1825. At 1915 the sick man was safely lifted by helicopter and the lifeboat was put about to go to the help of the drifting boat and her two remaining crew.

Anina had drifted before the strong wind and flood tide some 5 miles south of her first position. She was taken in tow at 1948 but headway of only 2 or 3 knots was possible against wind and tide. After a tow taking some 7£ hours Anina and her crew of two were brought safely to Grimsby at 0322. The lifeboat set out again at 0500, after taking on some fuel, arrived back on station at Spurn at 0547 and was rehoused and ready for service at 0818.

Ireland Division Standing by ON TUESDAY, January 14, at 0345, Rosslare Harbour honorary secretary received a telephone message from Rosslare Pier that MV Timber Skipper of London, carrying a crew of seven, had gone aground in very high seas 4 nautical miles off Cahore Point.

Visibility was poor and a violent storm force wind was blowing from the south south west. Difficulty was experienced in establishing lucid telephonic communication with the informant because of the gale.

The 48' 6" Solent lifeboat R. Hope Roberts was launched at 0500 on a flooding tide in a very heavy swell.

Timber Skipper's position was still uncertain, but the actual location was finally identified as Blackwater Bank.

The casualty was reached by 0620 and the lifeboat was by then 14 miles north east by north of the station. An examination of the bank from all sides showed that heavy surf extended for at least half a mile from Timber Skipper,but that she was in no immediate danger as the shallow water was breaking the swell before it reached her. After veering down on the vessel, the lifeboat anchored in the surf and stood by to await daylight, when it was proposed to airlift the crew of Timber Skipper to safety by helicopter.

The lift began about 0840, and the helicopter crew asked R. Hope Roberts to stand by while the seven crew members of Timber Skipper were transferred to Blackwater Beach. The air operation was completed by 0930, the weather having already moderated at dawn. The lifeboat then returned to station, arriving at 1150.

For this service a letter of appreciation signed by the Director of the Institution, Captain Nigel Dixon, RN, was sent to Coxswain William Stafford and to the crew: Second Coxswain M. O'Brien, Motor Mechanic M. Wickham, Assistant Motor Mechanic S. Martley Crew Members L. McCormack, S.

McCormack and J. Pitt, and Deputy Launching Authority B. Miller.

North Western Division Cliff Rescue PEEL, ISLE OF MAN, honorary secretary was alerted at 2130 on Tuesday, June 3, by the Coastguard. A man was trapped on the cliff face 1J miles south east of Peel. He had slipped while on a bird watching expedition and slithered down to about 20 or 30' from the bottom of the cliff. His companion had fortunately been able to clamber back up and raise the alarm. The coastguard said the cliff rescue team would attempt to rescue the man but the help of the 18' 6" McLachlan ILB might be needed.

At 2220 this help was definitely requested and the ILB launched at 2230 in south-westerly light airs and a smooth sea. The tide was ebbing. She arrived at the scene at 2250, where a search was being made from the top of the cliffs and the bottom, but without success. A parachute flare fired from the ILB illuminated the area, and her crew spotted the man about 100 yards from the original cliff working position.

Cliff gear was moved to the new position and Auxiliary Coastguard H. Phillips (who is also a Peel ILB crew member) was lowered to the casualty.

After several unsuccessful attempts to lower the man to the ILB, this course was abandoned and Coastguard P.

Molden was lowered down the cliff to help haul the casualty to the cliff top.

The man was eventually recovered at 0050 with only minor cuts and bruises, but suffering from cold and slight shock. At 0100 the ILB left the scene of the incident and returned to station.

The Coastguard recorded that her help had been invaluable, both in communications and because her crew had been able to light the cliff face with an Aldis lamp. Knockaloe Beg, the scene " iVie rescue, is shown to the right.South Eastern Division Dinghy and motorboat SHOREHAM HARBOUR ILB launched at 1519 on Tuesday, May 27, two minutes after the honorary secretary had been informed by the Coastguard that a dinghy had capsized one mile off Lancing. The sea was smooth with strong north-east-by-northerly winds.

On arrival a sailing dinghy was found righted but with her mainsail parted.

The helmsman was transferred to the ILB and landed with his dinghy.

Meanwhile, another message reported red flares about 2J miles south east of the harbour. The ILB setting out again found the motorboat Buccaneer with a fishing vessel Sea Quest standing by.

Buccaneer was taken in tow to the harbour and berthed at Kingston Wharf.

The ILB returned to station at 1637.

The owner of the sailing dinghy made a donation to the Institution's funds.

North Eastern Division Capsized rowing boat TWO FISHERMEN of Newbiggin launched their ferrier rowing boat to go out to their keep-box moored offshore at about 1115 on Friday, January 31, 1975.

When only a short distance from the shore, some 50 to 60 yards, the rowing boat, hit by two successive large waves, was driven under stern first and capsized, throwing the men into the water.

The incident was seen by Coxswain George Dawson, Motor Mechanic Clifford Hancox and other fishermen.Clifford Hancox immediately ran back to the boathouse for the line throwing apparatus, as there was a chance that the line could reach the capsized boat.

Unfortunately it fell just short and the tide was carrying boat and men away to westward.

Coxswain Dawson, realising the urgency of the situation, fired the maroons at 1124, informing the honorary secretary and Coastguard of his action. Meanwhile, John Robinson, who had come down to the beach on hearing of the accident, launched his coble Margaret Lisle with the help of other fishermen.

Mary Joicey, Newbiggin's 37' Oakley lifeboat, was launched from her carriage at 1132, just after Margaret Lisle had entered the water and set off towards the capsized boat, some 150 yards offshore.

It was just turned low water. The wind was south west force 3. There was a moderate swell and the sea in the bay was rough and breaking inshore.

Although the seas on launching did not cause the lifeboat much trouble, John Robinson in Margaret Lisle had to take evasive action to avoid broaching. When he arrived at the capsized boat there was only one person still holding on to it.

To try to break the motion of the breaking seas while John Robinson and his crew recovered the survivor, Coxswain Dawson circled the casualty with the lifeboat. The man had been in the water about 20 minutes and was very exhausted. Bob Dawson gave him artificial respiration, while John Robinson, because of his concern for the survivor and sea conditions inshore, returned to the beach where an ambulance was waiting. The survivor was taken to hospital and recovered satisfactorily.

Coxswain Dawson continued his search further to westward. It was taking him closer inshore, where, with the shoals, the seas were very rough and breaking continually. On occasions the lifeboat was seen to be on her beam ends; she was being swept by breaking seas, was reported to have touched bottom twice and in these conditions close inshore there was always a risk of capsize. Despite these hazards Coxswain Dawson pressed on with the search with great skill and courage.

At 1138 a 'flash of yellow' was seen in the breaking seas. Coxswain Dawson managed to bring the lifeboat alongside this object which turned out to be the hood of the other casualty's oilskin. The man was completely submerged. He was taken aboard the lifeboat and immediately given artificial respiration.

At 1152 a helicopter from RAF Acklington arrived on the scene, winched the survivor from the lifeboat and took him direct to Ashington Hospital, where he was showing signs of breathing.

Unfortunately, however, he did not respond to further treatment and died.

The lifeboat returned to the beachat 1200 and was re-housed and ready for service at 1245.

For this service the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum were accorded to Coxswain George Dawson and Skipper John Robinson. Vellum service certificates were presented to the crew of Margaret Lisle, George Dawson Robinson, William Twizell Dent, Robert Dawson, John Lisle Twizell and George Miller Dent, and to the crew of the lifeboat Mary Joicey, Motor Mechanic Clifford Hancox, T.

Martin, W. Smailes, R. Rowe, H.

Hepple and R. Wrigglesworth.

We regret to record that some time after this service John Twizell was killed in an accident at sea.

South Western Division French Yacht A MESSAGE came from the Coastguard to Salcombe honorary secretary at 1335 on Thursday, May 1, to say that the French yacht Alchuader III was unable to manoeuvre due to the very strong winds and the fact that her steering gear was broken. A French trawler which was in the vicinity was unable to take the yacht in tow. So, at 1405, the 47' Watson lifeboat The Baltic Exchange set out to her assistance in a gale force west-south-westerly wind and a rough sea. It was two hours before low water.

Alchuader HI was drifting in the main shipping lanes 18 miles south of Prawle Point and her crew were therefore in danger. On reaching the yacht at 1655 the lifeboat took her in tow safely back to Salcombe, where her crew of four were landed. After completing her service The Baltic Exchange returned to her moorings at 2140.

The French crew were most appreciative and congratulated the crew of Salcombe lifeboat on their speed and help throughout the incident.

South Western Division Only flare fired A RED FLARE fired from a position about 7 nautical miles south east of Berry Head was reported to Torbay honorary secretary by the Coastguard at 0609 on Wednesday, March 12. The 52' Barnett lifeboat Princess Alexandra of Kent set out to investigate at 0625, at high water, in overcast weather with visibility of 5 nautical miles. The sea was choppy and a moderate breeze was blowing from the north.

The Coastguard answered the distress call with white rockets and put out a general call on VHP to any vessels in the immediate vicinity. A local fishing boat responded and made for the casualty's position, arriving about 6 minutes before the lifeboat, which found the casualty by using her radar.

The distressed vessel was a 28' cabin continued on page 69.