Racing dinghies ON AN OVERCAST Sunday morning, May 3, dinghies from several sailing clubs on the River Blackwater had started racing when they were overtaken by deteriorating weather; soon after 1100 the strong westerly breeze was already gusting up to near gale, force 7, with a forecast of worse to come.

While heading up river on a routinepatrol, Bradwell Coastguard boat (CGB) saw, at 1120, several dinghies capsize. Most were soon righted by their crews, only one needing help; the CGB recovered the two dinghy sailors, righted their boat and took her in tow for Stone. Within minutes, however, more dinghies had capsized, so the CGB anchored the dinghy she had in tow and went to help club rescue boats while Bradwell Coastguard requested lifeboat assistance.

West Mersea Atlantic 21 rigid inflatable lifeboat had just arrived back on station from exercise during which she had already been helping a club rescue boat with capsized dinghies. Crew Member Simon Broadhurst had in fact gone overboard to help dinghy sailors in the water with their boat.

The Atlantic 21 set off again immediately manned by Helmsman James Clarke and Crew Members Leonard Broadhurst and Charles R. Taylor. She joined the other rescue boats helping to right capsized dinghies and tow them to shelter with their crews. Some dinghy sailors were taken off lee shores and the lifeboat helped check that those people who had had to abandon their boats were safe.

By 1150 the Police launch Alert II was on her way from Brightlingsea at full speed to help. By 1220 it was still not possible for the clubs to confirm that everyone was accounted for because of the number of boats now abandoned whose crews were ashore in different places. So Thames Coastguard re-quested that an RAF helicopter from Mansion should scramble to make a general search of the Blackwater. Starting at Sales Point in the river estuary, the helicopter 'hopped' from one boat to another, cross checking the description of apparently abandoned boats with the CGB and the lifeboat.

At 1251 it was reported that one 505 dinghy and one GP14 dinghy, each with a crew of two, were unaccounted for.

Within minutes the lifeboat was able to confirm that she had the missing GP14 in tow and that the crew of the 505 had been rescued.

By 1300 the helicopter had checked all craft within the river and reported that all appeared in hand except for a speedboat with two people on board which had broken down north of Osea Island. By the time the CGB reached her, however, her engine had been repaired and she was making her way to Maldon.

On returning to Bradwell marina, towing abandoned boats, the CGB and Alert II learned of a small swamped pram dinghy which had drifted out of the creek. They checked round the moorings and found that the pram had overturned while alongside a yacht unloading. A woman and a boy had already boarded the yacht; a man had been thrown into the water but had been hauled safely aboard the yacht.

After taking the GP14 to Stone and landing her crew, the lifeboat helped another capsized dinghy in Lawling Creek. By then her fuel was runninglow so she returned to station, arriving at 1345. By 1400 the Police, Coastguard and club boats had all returned to their stations.

For this service a letter signed by Cdr Bruce Cairns, chief of operations, expressing the Institution's appreciation to the lifeboat crew, was sent to Lt-Cdr Maurice W. Bond, West Mersea station honorary secretary..