Capsized yacht WHILE CROSS CHANNEL FERRY Viking Venturer was entering the Needles Channel on Monday evening July 3 she reported at 2002 the sighting of a capsized and semi-sunken yacht five cables south of Bridge Buoy. There was no sign of life aboard. An SAR helicopter was immediately scrambled and at 2006 Needles Coastguard requested the launch of Yarmouth lifeboat. Accordingly at 2015 the 52ft Arun Joy and John Wade launched with Coxswain/Mechanic David Kennett in command.

There was a strong breeze to near gale, force 6 to 7, blowing from the south west, the sea was moderate to rough and the tide was flooding. Visibility, good generally, was reduced to only fair in occasional rain squalls.

While the lifeboat was on her way the helicopter located the 17ft yacht Turpina and put a diver aboard who, having searched the cabin, reported no sign of life. The position was fixed and a rate of drift established. The helicopter then began a search of the Needles area and as far west as Anvil Point, but found nothing.

Arriving on scene at 2038, Yarmouth lifeboat began a box search of the area until dusk, but found nothing. With dark approaching it was decided to abandon the search and to take in tow the yacht, now drifted to some 3'/2 cables off Tennyson's Cross near Freshwater, Isle of Wight.

Coxswain Kennett manoeuvred the lifeboat close to Turpina which was lying with her stern only out of the water and showing a freeboard of some 12 inches. A grapnel was thrown aboard and the yacht taken in tow, but it was only a matter of moments before the tow line broke out from the yacht.

The tow was again made fast and, as the lifeboat got under way, the bow of the yacht was lifted clear of the water; only then was it realised that a body was caught in the rigging. As soon as speed was reduced the bow sank once more and in the near gale now blowing from west by south and the rough sea it was not possible for the body to be recovered by the lifeboat crew. (It wasin fact established that this yachtsman was in the habit of securing himself with a lifeline to mast or rigging when working forward.) A second helicopter, from HMS Norfolk, relieved the SAR helicopter and tried to land a crew member aboard the yacht, but this manoeuvre also proved impossible in the prevailing weather.

Moreover, with the radio equipment it carried on board, this helicopter was able to communicate neither with the lifeboat nor with the Coastguard.

The lifeboat resumed the tow and when just into a slight lee around the Needles the line broke out again. As before, the broken mast, sails and rigging around the yacht made it impossible to get close enough to secure a tow line properly without risk of fouling the lifeboat's propellers.

With the slight lee, sea conditions improved marginally and Coxswain Kennett called for volunteers to man the Y class small powered inflatable to take a tow line across to the yacht.

Crew Members Stuart Pimm and Richard Downes volunteered and, with the lifeboat steaming slowlv ahead into wind and sea, launched the inflatable.

With Stuart Pimm at the helm they closed the yacht and on the second attempt managed to secure a line to one of her cleats. The tow was resumed but almost as soon as the strain was taken on the warp it again broke out; the weight of the three-quarters submerged boat was too much for the cleat and it sheared.

The crew took their boat alongside and using their anchor as a jury grapnel managed to wedge it into the cabin.

The tow was started once again and the inflatable was recovered, not without difficulty in the rough weather. The lifeboat then headed back to station at 2'/2 knots, escorted for the last mile or so by the Police launch Ashburton. She entered Yarmouth Harbour at 0130 and manoeuvred the yacht alongside the jetty, helped to right her and extricate the body before returning to her moorings and being made ready for service again by 0300.

For this service framed letters of thanks signed by Major-General Ralph Farrant, chairman of the Institution, were presented to Crew Members Stuart L. Pimm and Richard Downes.

Letters of thanks signed by Captain Nigel Dixon, director of the Institution, were sent to Coxswain/MechanicDavid G. Kennett, Second Coxswain/ Mechanic Brian D. A. Miskin, Assistant Mechanic Nicholas G.

Chandler, Second Assistant Mechanic Robert R. Cooke and Crew Members Alan Howard and Maurice A. Pimm..