DURING THE NIGHT of Monday August 13 and Tuesday August 14 southwesterly storm force winds, veering to west north west and gusting to hurricane force, struck the south-western approaches while the international Fastnet Race fleet of 306 yachts was strung out across the 150 mile stretch of the south Irish Sea between Land's End and the Fastnet Rock, off the south of Ireland. The race had started from Cowes on Saturday August 11; the finish would be at Plymouth. The seas, with a fetch right across the Atlantic funnelling into narrowing waters, were not only phenomenally high and breaking but they were also treacherously short. Although the majority of the yachts weathered the storm and came safe to harbour unaided, 85 of them in fact finishing the race, it was soon known that some were in serious trouble and grave anxiety was felt about the safety of the whole fleet.

A massive search and rescue operation was launched, co-ordinated by HM Coastguard at Land's End and the Marine Rescue Co-Ordination Centre at Shannon, and during the next 36 hours great gallantry and endurance was shown by lifeboatmen from both sides of the Irish Sea, by naval helicopter crews from HMS Culdrose, by RAF Nimrod crews, by the crews of naval and merchant ships and fishing boats of difference nationalities in the area and indeed by the crews of the yachts themselves, some of whom went to the help of other boats even though it meant putting themselves in jeopardy.

Thirteen lifeboats from both sides of the Irish Sea took part in the operation, towing in or escorting at least 20 yachts and landing survivors. Several of the lifeboats made a number of missions and between them they spent a total of more than 170 hours at sea. At the height of the storm Baltimore lifeboat was at sea for about 24 hours, Courtmacsherry lifeboat for about 22 hours and St Mary's lifeboat for nearly 21 hours. Ballycotton, Dunmore East, Lizard-Cadgwith, Padstow, St Ives and Sennen Cove lifeboats were all out on service in the storm for many hours.

Angle, Clovelly and Penlee lifeboats also took part in the search and rescue operation. Falmouth's fast afloat Arun lifeboat, which on the night of August 14 was sent out of her district to operate in the main search area north of the Scillies, was away from station for 38 hours with only brief visits to St Mary's and Newlyn.

Despite all the efforts made, 15 yachtsmen were lost from yachts taking part in the Fastnet Race and four from a catamaran in the area. It was an unprecedented tragedy in the long history of ocean racing. Among those lost, the RNLI particularly mourns Peter Dorey, the owner and skipper of the Guernsey yacht Cavale. As well as being a member of the States of Guernsey and a prominent ship owner, Mr Dorey was for some years a reserve crew member of St Peter Port lifeboat and went out on service a number of times.

Following the search and rescue operation the Prime Minster, Mrs Margaret Thatcher, sent a telegram to the Chairman of the Institution which read: 7 should be glad if you could pass on to the lifeboat crews involved and all of those who work to support them my congratulations on their achievements in the Fastnet Race rescue operation this week. It has brought home to us once again how much we depend on the bravery and willingness to serve of those who man our lifeboats.' It was not only in the south west that lifeboats were launched on service during that 36 hours from 0001 on Tuesday August 14 to 1200 on Wednesday August 15. At least a further 13 offshore lifeboats in other parts of the country were called out as well, making some 26 lifeboats in all. A detailed report of what will surely be remembered as the Fastnet Storm will be published in the winter journal..