Four calls SHOEBURYNESS COASTGUARD sighted a fishing boat off West Shoebury Beacon exhibiting a distress signal at 1550 on Monday, June 6, 1977. The auto-klaxon to Southend-on-Sea ILB boathouse was sounded and the duty crew prepared to launch. Meanwhile the Coastguard telephoned the honorary secretary of the station, who agreed to the launch and made his way to the boathouse on the pier.

The wind was southerly, strong gale force 9, with a short, heavy sea. High water Southend was predicted at 1743.

The afternoon was overcast with poor visibility in rain showers.

Southend's Atlantic 21, Percy Garon, launched at 1552 and headed eastward for Shoebury Beacon where a 19ft open boat, Kelly, was found at anchor at 1606. The three-mile passage was made in appalling conditions, with throttles having to be eased at nearly every sea. The three fishermen told the crew that their engine had broken down and that water was being taken over the gunwales, but they did not want to leave their boat.

The ILB was now in open waters in the full weight of the gale, recorded at the boathouse as gusting to 45 knots, and the crew agreed to attempt a tow into the shore. A line was passed and the tow began towards Shoebury east beach. Although the sea moderated in the shallower water, there was still a heavy ground swell. The boat was moored some half mile offshore and the three men transferred to the ILB. The HMCG mobile reported heavy onshore surf and Helmsman Robert Fossett asked that the beach area be cleared: he then beached the Atlantic 21 at half speed, landing the survivors safely at 1648. The ILB was turned and refloated with some difficulty, the crew being soaked through by this time, and course was set for station.

At 1700 the Coastguard requested that the ILB pick up the ex-lifeboat coxswain, Peter Gilson, and two fishermen, at the pier and take them to the Leigh Ray where the fishing boat Anja was seen to have parted one of her mooring warps in the gale. The men were aboard at 1730, after one ILB crew member had been changed at the pier.The ILB intended to stand by the fishing boat but at 1753 the Coastguard reported red flares at Sea Reach No. 1 Buoy and the ILB immediately set course eastward, arriving on scene at 1809. Sheerness lifeboat, the 44ft Waveney Helen Titrnbiill, had also been launched to this casualty, a 28ft sloop which was undamaged but incapable of weathering the severe conditions.

All six people on board were wet and exhausted and the Southend crew transferred four young boys to the ILB for safety. Sheerness lifeboat arrived at 1812 and took all survivors aboard: a tow was passed with the help of a Southend crew member placed aboard the yacht, and the tow began to Sheerness.

The ILB retrieved her third crew member and stood by the tow until, at 1840, another yacht fired red flares near East Cant Buoy.

Cogneto, a 26ft yacht, had run out of fuel and, being single-handed, could not be successfully sailed in the gale force winds. One ILB crew member was put aboard to help the owner, who was very tired, a towline was made fast and the ILB stemmed wind and tide until Sheerness lifeboat returned at 1945 to take over the casualty.

At 2000 the ILB headed east again to take off the crew of Anja but was diverted to a cabin yacht in Leigh Ray which had split her storm jib and had no engine. She was anchored by the ILB crew and her three people were taken aboard the ILB at 2100.

The ILB returned to Southend boathouse at 2145 after being continuously at sea for six hours. Only then did Helmsman Fossett say that he had been having difficulty with engine controls.

Although the crew had just returned from a long service they worked with the shore party to make sure that the defect was remedied before they left the boathouse: the ILB was reported ready for service at 2300.

The radio handset had been continually wet and reception was poor, but after drying out, it was in full working order.

For this service the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum have been accorded to Helmsman Robert Fossett and vellum service certificates have been presented to Crew Members Paul Gilson, Stewart Green and Michael Green..