Canoes HEARING AT 1335 on Saturday May 26, 1979, that a canoe had capsized off Dover, Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic Anthony Hawkins informed Dover Port Control that he and a crew member who was with him were going to the boathouse to stand by. Authority to launch was obtained from the honorary secretary and maroons fired, so that, at 1344, just after red flares were sighted off the western entrance to the harbour, Faithful Forester, the 44ft Waveney lifeboat at that time on station at Dover, was slipping her moorings and on her way.

A near gale, force 7, was blowing from the south south west giving a moderate sea and swell. The afternoon was overcast with frequent rain squalls in which visibility was poor. It was !3/4 hours after high water.

At 1355, realising that there were a number of canoes needing help, Coxswain Hawkins asked for helicopterassistance, and a Wessex was scrambled from RAF Mansion. Meanwhile the lifeboat reached a group of four canoeists who had rafted themselves together about two cables off the western breakwater. They were rising and falling some six feet in the rough sea and confused swell caused by waves rebounding off the breakwater. A heaving line was thrown to the outboard canoeist and as the four canoes were drawn close alongside the lifeboat Coxswain Hawkins and Crew Member Michael Abbott grabbed the nearest canoeist, a young girl, while Crew Members Garth James and David Williams grabbed the man in the next canoe; both were brought safely aboard the lifeboat although the lift was made more difficult by spray canopies fastened to the canoes.

At that moment the fourth canoe on the outside of the 'raft' rolled over to seaward three times, failing to right from the third roll. Realising the man was trapped, Garth James, himself a one-time canoe instructor, jumped from the lifeboat into the water and righted the canoe. The third canoeist was snatched from his craft into the lifeboat by Crew Members Roy Couzens and Michael Abbott, while the fourth canoeist was similarly rescued by Crew Member Williams with Garth James helping from the water. David Williams then helped Garth back into the lifeboat which was rolling heavily, her well awash.

At 1359 Dover Port Control told the lifeboat that three more canoes had been sighted a little further out to sea and she headed for them at best possible speed. Two canoeists, who threw overboard their paddles and spray covers to help the lifeboatmen, were taken from their canoes. The third canoeisthad by this time paddled to join a lone companion and together they were making their way through the eastern entrance to the safety of the harbour.

The Wessex helicopter arrived at about this time and from then on acted as 'spotter'. Dover lifeboat took over the escort of two more canoeists from Dover Harbour patrol boat and saw them safely ashore at St Margaret's Bay, while the patrol boat, on her way back to harbour, rescued another two canoeists.

The lifeboat entered harbour at 1500 and landed the survivors; one, suffering from shock and hypothermia, was sent to hospital by ambulance. Ten minutes later the lifeboat put to sea again with extra crew members, successfully recovered five of the abandoned canoes and brought them back to station. At 1555 Faithful Forester was back at her moorings and ready once more for service.

For this service a framed letter of thanks signed by the Duke of Atholl, chairman of the Institution, was sent to Crew Member Garth V. James. A letter of appreciation signed by Rear Admiral W. J. Graham, director of the Institution, was sent to Coxswain Anthony G.

Hawkins and his crew..