Disabled yacht A YACHT AT ANCHOR near Lune No 1 Buoy, Morecambe Bay, but having a rough time was reported to Fleetwood Coastguard by an auxiliary coastguard at Knott End at 1525 on Wednesday September 10, 1980. It was learned that the yacht Water Baby had sailed from Glasson Dock for Ireland the previous day with a crew of four but had been anchored about three quarters of a mile inside Lune No 1 Buoy, at the mouth of the River Lune, since the previous night; she had a rope round her propeller and a mast stay had parted, so that she could not move under her own power. Her crew were waiting for the weather to moderate.

About an hour and a half later, however, at 1650, Water Baby called up on VHP Channel 16, asking for lifeboat help; the weather was already bad with an onshore gale, force 8, blowing from the west, rough seas and squally showers, and the forecast was that worse was to come. It was four hours after high water.

The honorary secretary of Fleetwood lifeboat station was informed at 1652 and the 44ft Waveney lifeboat Lady of Lancashire slipped her moorings at 1702 under the command of Coxswain William Fairclough.The lifeboat saw the yacht in broken water but could not get within three quarters of a mile to seaward, where she was in 10 feet of water. Called up on VHP, Water Baby said she was in 14 feet; she had been anchored in the same position for 24 hours and at low water she was in a lagoon. So the lifeboat then felt her way in through the shallow waters, the least depth being eight feet.

The yacht was told to buoy and slip her anchor and was then taken in tow.

Towing was slow in the high seas and considerable difficulty was experienced in shortening in the tow to make the turn at the entrance to the channel.Wave-smoothing oil was tried with little effect, but eventually the turn was made and the yacht was finally berthed at Fleetwood at 1915.

The lifeboat was moored in her pen and once again ready for service by 2130.

For this service a letter expressing appreciation to Coxswain William I.

Fairclough and his crew and signed by Commander Bruce Cairns, chief of operations RNLI, was sent to Richard T. Willoughby, Fleetwood station honorary secretary..