Committee boat A RACE had been organised for dinghies at Blackpool Light Craft Club off Squires Gate on Saturday afternoon, June 13, 1981, but it was cancelled because of rising wind and sea. All the dinghies came ashore unaided but the engine of a club safety boat failed when she was swamped in the surf and the engine of the committee boat, at anchor with three people on board, also failed.

A message from Liverpool Coastguard that help was needed was received by the honorary secretary of Blackpool lifeboat station at 1459 and Blackpool D class inflatable was launched at Squires Gate, two miles south of her station, a quarter of an hour later under the command of Helmsman Keith Horrocks.

With him were Crew Members Arthur P. Parton and Philip Denham.

A strong breeze, force 6, was blowing from the south west and the sea was rough with the combined sea and swell over 6ft high; some of the waves were breaking. It was just after low water and the flood tide was starting to run.

After launching. Helmsman Keith Horrocks headed for the nearest of the two boats, which was only 50 yards off the beach. Her crew, however, indicated that they could make their own way ashore and told him to go to the committee boat, a 17ft catamaran with an outboard engine, which was half a mile offshore.

The inflatable lifeboat reached thecatamaran at 1520 and after assessing the situation Helmsman Horrocks decided that, in these rough seas, he would take off the people on board in two trips. After telling them what he intended to do, he brought the lifeboat alongside on the weather side (the lee side being obstructed by the committee boat's anchor cable) and, despite waves breaking over both boats, held her there long enough for a lifeboatman to board the catamaran and two of the people from the catamaran to leap into the lifeboat. The two people were landed on the beach, the lifeboat returned to the catamaran and took off the third person and the lifeboatman.

After landing the last survivor, the lifeboat crew demonstrated excellent seamanship by attaching a drogue to the catamaran, cutting the anchor warp and allowing the boat to come ashore on her own, undamaged.

The inflatable lifeboat returned to station at 1550 and was housed and ready for service at 1645.

For this service a framed letter of thanks signed by the Duke of Atholl, chairman of the Institution, was presented to Helmsman Keith Horrocks..