Lee shore FOLLOWING THE SIGHTING of a red flare in Dovercourt Bay by the BR sea freight liner. Thames Coastguard telephonedthe honorary secretary of Walton and Frinton lifeboat station and the deputy launching authority of Harwich lifeboat station just after 2200 on Friday April 17, 1981. Maroons were fired immediately at both stations and Harwich's Atlantic 21 rigid inflatable lifeboat launched at 2213 manned by Helmsman Robert Ramplin and Crew Members Peter Brand and Peter Dawson. Walton and Frinton's 48ft 6in Oakley lifeboat The Earl and Countess Howe slipped her mooring at 2223 under the command of Coxswain Frank Bloom to back up the Atlantic.

The evening was overcast but clear with a strong breeze to near gale, force 6 to 7, blowing from the north east and moderate seas. It was two hours before high water.

After setting out at full speed the Atlantic had to ease down to half speed when, after clearing Landguard Point to head for Pye Sands, she met the full force of the weather. At 2220 the pounding of the boat sheared the pin holding the mast, so a screwdriver was fitted in the pin's place to keep the mast in its position. A search was begun in the Pye Sands area but at first no casualty could be seen through the driven spray in the rough, confused seas.

Then, at 2225, a parachute flare was put up and by its light the casualty was sighted near an old blockhouse on the shore.

An approach was made to within 40 yards, when the casualty could be seen by the white water breaking over her.

As this area has a bottom of mud with deep rills and many ex-wartime underwater obstructions. Helmsman Ramplin could not get alongside the casualty, in the rough breaking seas, to check her crew. Instead, he turned the Atlantic's bows into the sea and allowed her to betaken in by the wind and waves until she just touched, when Crew Member Peter Brand, who had volunteered to investigate, swam and waded to the casualty.

The Atlantic was held off with her searchlight trained on Peter Brand.

The casualty, the 24ft yacht Dunkit.

was about 20ft from the shore and when Crew Member Brand reached her he found that there were two people on board but that a third had waded ashore through the surf to seek help; it was not known where he was now.

As the shore at this point is formed of marshes and streams. Crew Member Brand decided that they should radio for more shore assistance. He waded out and signalled to the Atlantic 21 to come in. Again, Helmsman Ramplin put the Atlantic 21 bows to sea and let her drift in but, just as Crew Member Brand boarded, a large breaking wave lifted the lifeboat and stalled her port engine as it touched bottom. She was driven beam on and then ashore.

Several attempts were made to relaunch the Atlantic lifeboat by the three crew members but although the three together could at times hold the boat into the onshore seas, as soon as Helmsman Ramplin boarded to re-start the engines the weight proved too much for the other two men to hold and the boat was again driven ashore.

By 2250 Walton and Frinton's Oakley lifeboat had arrived and she helped the Atlantic's crew by illuminating the area with her searchlight. At 2257. after ten unsuccessful attempts with all three crew members at times being swept off their feet, the Atlantic was launched with Helmsman Ramplin on the controls leaving the other two crew members on the shore.

The Atlantic headed for the Oakley lifeboat, to go alongside, but just as she approached a large wave lifted her bows on to the lifeboat as she could not go astern with her engines not 'on lock'. At 2303 a crew member from The Earl and Countess Howe went aboard the Atlantic as crew and she returned to Harwich.

She was refuelled and once again ready for service at 2326.

Ashore, the man who had first waded through the surf had returned and he remained at the casualty while Crew Members Brand and Dawson helped the other two people through the marshes, being met by the police. The Earl and Countess Howe stood by until everyone was safely ashore before returning to station. On her way she was diverted to investigate an object in the water which turned out to be a floating anchor light. She was back on her moorings, ready for service, at 0210.

All the people on shore were picked up by car. The yacht was towed off the beach the next day.

For this service framed letters of thanks signed by the Duke of Atholl.

chairman of the Institution, were presented to Helmsman Robert A. Ramplin and Crew Members Peter E. Brand and Peter R. Dawson of Harwich..