and Coxswain Jack headed out towards Bell Rock. A few minutes later, when clear of the bar, the coxswain handed over to the second coxswain, who had injured his ankle and, as he was unable to get an answer on the intercom, went below to check on his crew. At the first count it was thought that one man was missing but he had knocked his head and was found unconscious in the we; the rest, who had been belted in, seemed only to be bruised. Damage inside was found to be mainly superficial with small items of gear strewn around.

Coxswain Jack, who had torn a ligament to his right leg, then went back up to the upper conning position together with Crew Member Alistair Piggot.

Second Coxswain Hugh Scott, who had in fact broken his ankle, managed to get down the ladder to the wheelhouse and was lifted into the seventh seat and strapped in.

In view of the second coxswain's and his own injuries and information received from the Coastguard that the rescue was now being carried out by helicopter, Coxswain Jack decided to make for Leith. He continued working from the upper conning position for about another half hour until he was well clear of the bar, and then came down to the wheelhouse for the rest of the passage.

Having heard that Fendyke was in distress, that two of Broughty Ferry's crew were injured and thinking that one man was missing overboard, Arbroath crew mustered at the boathouse.

Shortly afterwards the honorary secretary authorised launch and the 42ft Watson lifeboat The Duke of Montrose was released down the slipway at 0045 under the command of Second Coxswain Brian Bruce.

Acting Coxswain Bruce held the boat inside the breakwater until masts and radar scanner were erected and then, with the crew in position and lookouts posted either side of the wheelhouse, the lifeboat headed out between the piers to cross the bar. With the easterly wind blowing heavy spray across the port bow of the boat, and in very high seas, the bar was safely negotiated.

While crossing the bar a message was received from Forth Coastguard saying that the Broughty Ferry crew member had been found and that there was no casualty for the Arbroath lifeboat.

Informing Forth Coastguard that due to the sea conditions she would not return to Arbroath, The Duke of Montrose also made her way to Leith. In beam seas heavy spray made lookout difficult and restricted the coxswain's view but the boat was handling very well and riding waves so that very little water was coming aboard. After rounding Fifeness, course was altered to south west to pass north of the Isle of May. The seas were now fine on the lifeboat's port quarter and the drogue was streamed, making the lifeboat noticeably easier to handle.

On arrival at Leith at about 0430, Broughty Ferry lifeboat was met by an ambulance and the coxswain and second coxswain were taken to hospital.

Coxswain Jack was released after a few hours and Second Coxswain Scott was kept in for a few days for an operation to his ankle.

Arbroath lifeboat arrived at Leith at 0810. After changing into dry clothing and having breakfast the crew were taken home by road.

With blizzard conditions in Scotland over the New Year, both lifeboats returned to station as soon as it was possible, on January 2.

Western Division Two towed AT ABOUT 1600 on Wednesday December 6, 1978, Robert Gorman, a fisherman and ILB crew member at Aberystwyth, saw a capsized sailing boat and the college rescue boat about 400 yards off shore. Realising that they would need help he prepared to sail his own boat, FV Lona. A force 8 gale, gusting, was blowing from the south east. Sunset was at 1550 and high water had been at 1207.

Robert Gorman reached the capsized boat, which had drifted further out to sea, and took her in tow. The college rescue boat headed for harbour but her engine failed, so that she now needed help. Robert Gorman took Lona alongside, passed a line and with both boats in tow entered harbour at 1650 and secured alongside. The four rescued people needed medical assistance before being allowed to leave the station.

For this service a framed letter of thanks signed by Major-General Ralph Farrant, chairman of the Institution, was presented to Robert Gorman.

Ireland Division Family adrift A FATHER and his three small children decided to go out in their boat on Strangford Lough at about 1600 on Friday September 1, 1978. Launching their boat from Newtownards Sailing Club, they had gone some way round Barr's Bay when the engine suddenly failed and could not be restarted. The father started to row, tried to start the engine again having given it a chance to cool down, but without success, and then decided to row the boat all the way to shore.

One oar was in place but as he was shipping the other it slipped out of his hand, fell into the water and started to drift away. He tried to reach it, circling the boat round with the oar he had, but it could not be done. He stood up in the boat and shouted for help but got no response from the shore.

While the children stayed in the boat, the father went into the water to retrieve the lost oar but found that he was unable to return to the boat against the strong wind and current. Signalling to his children that he was going for help, he started to swim towards the shore.

Meanwhile, two power rescue launches set out, one from Newtownards Sailing Club and one from Whiterock. The first was manned by Reserve Constables Walter Nelson and David Canavan, John Travis and Angus Jardine who together rescued the father from the water.

The second boat was manned by Don Clarke, a steward at Whiterock Yacht Club and an auxiliary coastguard, who picked up the children, took their boat in tow and headed for the sailing club.

On the way he took off the people from the other launch and took their boat in tow also.

All landed safely and were taken to Newtownards Sailing Club.

For this service letters of appreciation signed by John Atterton, acting director of the Institution, were sent to Reserve Constables Walter L. Nelson and David J. Canavan and also to Auxiliary Coastguard Don Clarke..