Three calls A CANOE with two children aboard, overdue on passage from Colne Point to West Mersea, was reported to the deputy launching authority of West Mersea ILB station by Thames Coastguard at 2006 on Monday July 31, 1978.

Maroons were fired, the crew assembled by 2010 and West Mersea's Atlantic 21 launched at 2017 to search.

There was a strong east-southeasterly breeze blowing, force 6, with heavy rain and poor visibility; the launching position was in the lee and the sea was moderate. It was three hours before high water.

A search was started on the track from West Mersea to Colne Point and as soon as Mersea Island was cleared the ILB was heading directly into the by now north-easterly near gale, force 7. The seas were rough and, with continuous heavy rain, visibility was poor.

To give Helmsman Graham Knott better visibility in the driving spray and rain one crew member stood forward of him and gave a lee. Best speed in the prevailing conditions was made throughout.

At 2028 Bradwell Coastguard mobile, searching Sales Point, sighted a red flare and at the same time a report was received that the two children were safe. The ILB at this time was approaching Colne Point. On hearing of the new incident she changed course and made for the new search position at full speed.

Arriving off Sales Point at 2035 the ILB asked Bradwell mobile for a better fix in the poor visibility and the shore was closed so that the ILB could search down the mobile's bearing of the flare. At 2037 a second flare fired by the casualty was sighted by the ILB, which then headed straight for her. She found a sloop, Blackbird, with anchor down but driven stern on to the sands and shipping spray overall. At 2043 the ILB went alongside Blackbird's port side and took off her crew of four, two men and two women.

As a further incident had been reported of two people in the water off West Mersea, the ILB was asked to land the yacht's crew near Bradwell mobile and set off on the new search. A local fishing vessel in the area, Diana, agreed to try to tow off the casualty so at 2049 Blackbird's owner was put aboard Diana and at 2058 the other three people were landed on the beach near Bradwell mobile. The incident off West Mersea turned out to be a falsealarm, so the ILB returned to stand by Blackbird.

The yacht was towed clear by Diana at 2115 and the tow started to West Mersea. The ILB picked up the three people from Bradwell Marina and put them back on board Blackbird when, at 2200, she was safe in West Mersea. The ILB was back on station and ready for service at 2210.

The whole series of incidents had taken place in near gale force winds, rough seas and continuous heavy rain and fog which reduced visibility to a quarter of a mile.

For this service the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum were accorded to Helmsman Graham M.

Knott. Vellum service certificates were presented to Crew Members Brian M.

Jay and Jonathan P. French..