Trapped by tide A LIFEGUARD telephoned the deputy launching authority of Newquay, Cornwall, ILB station at 1555 on Wednesday August 8, 1979, to tell him that two girls were trapped by the tide at Lamorna Cove. The ILB, manned by Helmsman Norman Bailey and Crew Members Martin Burt and Robert Stokes, was launched within five minutes. A moderate north-westerly wind was blowing on shore so that waves of four to five feet were breaking along the shoreline. It was 2'/2 hours before high water.

Arriving off the cove, the crew could see the two girls on rocks at its head.

Although the girls could climb clear of the waves, it was apparent that they would be trapped for at least six hours, by which time darkness would have fallen, so Helmsman Bailey decided to go straight into the cove and take them off.

Newquay ILB is frequently called to Lamorna Cove, so the crew know it well and did not expect any great difficulty, even though there is no beach but only the boulder strewn cove. Once disembarked, however, it proved very hard to turn the boat head to sea for relaunching while standing among the boulders with the seas, more difficult than had been thought, breaking over boat and crew.

As soon as the two girls were embarked the engine was restarted, but when gear was engaged it was discovered that the drive pin had sheared.

The crew rowed the boat away from the shore while the helmsman tried to fit a new shear pin, but, when clear of the cove, the starboard oar, being pulled by a particularly strong man. broke and immediately carried away. The ILB was swept along the shoreline by aflood tide of 4 to 5 knots. The anchor was let go but failed to hold. The crew radioed for helicopter help but could get no response from the radio because they were so close under the 100ft cliffs. They shouted to an auxiliary coastguard on the cliff top, but in fact a Royal Naval helicopter which had been in the area was already on her way to help.

As the boat was carried into a gully.

Crew Member Stokes jumped out on to a rock taking one girl with him. Crew Member Burt threw him a painter, but as soon as Robert Stokes had made it fast to a rock a heavy sea broke through the boat, tearing out the painter and that portion of the bow fabric to which it was secured.

The ILB was carried up to the top of the boulder strewn gully. Crew Member Burt and Helmsman Bailey both got out to steady the boat, but they were washed from one side of the gully to the other before they managed to get the remaining girl on to a reef of rocks and eventually out to a position from which she could be lifted off by helicopter.

The helicopter arrived within minutes and lifted both girls to the safety of the cliff top. Crew Member Stokes tried to work his way along the ledge to reach the ILB. now being battered against rocks, but it was impossible, so the ILB had to be abandoned and the three men lifted to the cliff top by helicopter.

The crew later joined a salvage party of 19 volunteers organised by the honorary secretary. Leaving the boathouse at 2230 with the trailer and lights they eventually managed to recover the boat, her engine and radio and returned with them to the boathouse. A replacement boat was sent to the station while repairs were made.

It was subsequently found that Crew Member Burt had broken his wrist on this service and Helmsman Bailey had cuts and abrasions on both feet.

For this service letters of appreciation signed by Rear Admiral W. J.

Graham, director of the Institution, were sent to Helmsman Norman Bailey and Crew Members Martin Burt and Robert Stokes..