held on to him until another boat came to his assistance. Meanwhile, one of the teenage rescuers hung on to the boarding boat while the other was subsequently recovered by the second boat.

On landing the fisherman on the pier, Brendan Madden first gave him resuscitation and then continued to take care of him until an ambulance arrived. After ten days in hospital, the fisherman was once again home and well.

For this service letters of appreciation signed by Rear Admiral W. J. Graham, director of the Institution, were sent to Second Coxswain/Mechanic J. Brendan Madden, Larry Dineen and Donal Traynor.

South West Division Man in water THE MUMBLES COASTGUARD telephoned the honorary secretary of Atlantic College, St Donat's Castle, lifeboat station at 0948 on Sunday May 24, 1981, to inform him that a man had been reported in the water off Witches Point, Southerndown Bay. The assembly klaxon was sounded and within five minutes the station's Atlantic 21 rigid inflatable lifeboat was launched with Helmsman Michael Barker at the controls. With him were Crew Members Lars Linstedt, Adrian Lunn and Arshad Mohammed.

The launch was executed extremely quickly despite very difficult conditions.

The time of high water was 1035 so that the launch had to take place at the top of the slipway. This meant that not only did the crew and launchers have to contend with the moderately rough southwesterly swell coming in from the sea, but also with the return surge when this swell hit the castle wall bordering the slipway.

Although the weather was good a fresh breeze, force 5, was blowing from the south west and the sea and swell were moderate to rough. Nevertheless, full speed was maintained throughout the passage and the four-mile distance, going through Nash Sound, was covered in seven minutes.

On arrival at the scene an angler on Broken steering gear THE WINTER 1981/82 issue of THE LIFEBOAT contained a report of a service by Whitstable lifeboat to a catamaran, Rumpleteazer; which had broken her steering gear in a near gale while on passage from London to the West Country. The catamaran Rumpleteazer owned by Peter Ellis and based at Woolverstone, Ipswich, was in no way involved in the incident.

shore immediately directed the Atlantic to the casualty. The man was floating, face down, about 300 yards from the shore. The first attempt to come alongside him failed, manoeuvring the boat in the prevailing conditions proving difficult.

So Helmsman Barker instructed Crew Member Linstedt, a swimmer, to enter the water. Lars Linstedt succeeded in turning the man face upwards and with the help of the throwing line returned with the casualty to the boat.

Helmsman Barker deflated a section of the starboard sponson so that the man could be brought aboard more easily.

With the aid of the Brooke Airway mouth to mouth resuscitation was immediately started and the breathing of the casualty revived.

At 1012' a helicopter from RAF Chivenor arrived overhead. The man was air-lifted to Cardiff for transfer to hospital but died while in the ambulance on the way.

By 1042 the Atlantic 21 was back at her slipway. The boat was expertly recovered in conditions which were as difficult as those experienced for launching.

At 1115 she was rehoused, refuelled and once again ready for service.

For this service a letter of appreciation signed by Cdr Bruce Cairns, chief of operations, was sent to Helmsman Michael Barker and Crew Members Lars Linstedt, Adrian Lunn and Arshad Mohammed, all students at the United World College of the Atlantic.

East Division Drifting in gale A DUTCH YACHT, the 42ft Ran I, reported at 2238 on Thursday June 4, 1981, that she was in difficulties in the vicinity of Shipwash Lightvessel; her engine had broken down and she was drifting in gale force winds. She had nine people on board.

Great Yarmouth Coastguard alerted a helicopter from RAF Coltishall which was already airborne on a night exercise and, at 2242, Aldeburgh Coastguard telephoned the honorary secretary of Aldeburgh lifeboat station. Aldeburgh's 42ft Beach lifeboat Charles Dlbdin (Civil Service No. 32) launched at 2259 under the command of Coxswain William Burrell.

It was a bad night with a force 8 gale blowing from west south west and very rough seas, although visibility was good. The tide was half flood.

At first the lifeboat headed east south east towards what was thought to be the casualty's position, but the helicopter sighted the yacht further south and directed the lifeboat to the new position.

The lifeboat came up with Ran I, 5'/2 miles south east of Aldeburgh station, at 2335. She then went alongside the yacht, helped by illumination from the helicopter's searchlight, and passed a tow line. It was not an easy operation in that rough weather and at one time three lifeboatmen were washed off their feet along the deck.

Once the line was made fast the yacht was towed into the shelter of Orfordness and on to Harwich Harbour. The lifeboat returned to Aldeburgh at 0623 and was beached and once again ready for service by 0725.

For this service a letter of appreciation signed by Cdr Bruce Cairns, chief of operations, was sent to Coxswain William V. Burrell, BEM, Acting Second Coxswain Colin Smith, Motor Mechanic Nigel A. Saint, Assistant Mechanic John A. McMullan and Crew Members Maurice H. Smith, Douglas G. Cook and Frederick S. F. Sharland.

East Division Not under command A MESSAGE came to Yarmouth Coastguard from Norfolk Police at 1700 on Wednesday August 12, 1981, to say that a speedboat was spinning round and round out of control off South Beach, Heacham, and a child had been hit; an ambulance was on its way.

Hunstanton Coastguard Mobile was despatched at 1710, and the lifeboat station informed. At 1715 Hunstanton's D class inflatable lifeboat was launched off the beach manned by Helmsman Alan Clarke and Crew Member Arthur Osborne together with Shore Helper J.

Connors who went out as a third member of the crew.

As the lifeboat approached the scene, about four miles south west of the station, her crew heard on the radio that a man had been recovered from the water and was on his way to hospital. When they arrived they found that the speedboat, unoccupied except for a dog, was circling at full power about 120 yards off the beach. The inflatable lifeboat first made a cautious approach to the speedboat's starboard side, but had to withdraw because of ski lines in the water.

She next tried to come up from astern, but the speedboat was too fast. The lifeboat then tried to approach the speedboat's port side, which was high out of the water. After two unsuccessful attempts. Helmsman Clarke timed it just right on the third run in and Crew Member Osborne, at great personal risk, was able to dive aboard and bring the boat under control. It was now 1730. He landed the boat and the dog on the beach and the lifeboat had returned to her station by 1752.

It was later learnt that a water skier had fallen over. His father, driving the speedboat, leant over the stern of the boat to talk to his son and fell into the propeller.

For this service a letter signed by Cdr Bruce Cairns, chief of operations, expressing the Institution's appreciation to Helmsman Alan J. Clarke and Crew Members Arthur E. Osborne and J.

Connors was sent to Hunstanton station honorary secretary, Mr J. T. Day..