On a lee shore INFORMATION from Ministry of Defence Police that a catamaran, Helen M, was anchored in a dangerous position off Pendine was received by Tenby Coastguard at 2110 on Wednesday October 7, 1981. Two of the catamaran's crew members had rowed ashore to obtain fuel, leaving the owner on board, and then conditions had become such that they were unable to return to the boat.

A message was passed to the honorary secretary of Tenby lifeboat station at 2128, maroons were fired and within minutes the 46ft 9in Watson lifeboat Henry Comber Brown was launched on service under the command of Coxswain Joshua Richards.

The south-westerly wind was gusting to strong gale, force 9, and the sea was very rough with a heavy swell. It was two hours after low water.

The lifeboat headed at full speed towards the position of Helen M, a quarter of a mile off the beach just inside Oilman Point, about half a mile from Pendine. Good time was made, running before the swells, and Henry Comber Brown arrived in the vicinity of Helen M at 2218.

The catamaran was seen to be at anchor in about seven feet of water. She was being swept by heavy breaking seas and she was pitching and shearing in an alarming manner. Conditions were deteriorating and it was clear that her position was critical. There was no sign of life on deck and it was assumed that the owner had sensibly stayed below to avoid the risk of being swept overboard.

Realising that any attempt to go alongside would incur the risk of damage to the casualty, perhaps resulting in her foundering and the loss of her skipper, and that to try to put a crew member on board would also be hazardous, Coxswain Richards anchoredahead of Helen M and slightly to the east. Then, with skilful use of the engines, he veered the lifeboat down towards her in an attempt to pick up her anchor cable and then tow her clear of the shoal water. Great care was needed to make sure that the anchor cable did not foul the lifeboat's propellers.

While some of the lifeboatmen took hold of the anchor cable, Crew Members John John and Michael Wilson managed to scramble aboard Helen M.

The crew aboard the lifeboat were just starting to recover the cable, before towing the catamaran clear, when the cable parted and the catamaran began to be driven towards the shore.

Coxswain Richards, knowing how little time there was, immediately ordered the lifeboat's own anchor cable to be slipped; to recover the anchor would have taken too long. Meanwhile, on board Helen M, Crew Members John and Wilson found a spare anchor, secured it to a nylon rope and threw it over the side, hoping to check the drift towards the beach. Fortunately, this anchor took hold and Coxswain Richards was able to take the lifeboat in a wide sweep round and close enough to the catamaran's port beam to pass a line to the crew on board. The line was secured and Coxswain Richards took up the strain with the lifeboat and began to tow the boat into deeper water.

Throughout these manoeuvres both boats, pitching and rolling heavily, had been continually swept by the seas which were estimated by eye witnesses to be 12 to 15 feet high.

The passage back to Tenby meant steaming into wind and sea and great care had to be taken to maintain the tow; despite the efforts of the two crew members on board, the casualty was yawing badly. Nevertheless, by 2330 the lifeboat and her tow had arrived back at Tenby. Helen M was safely secured to a mooring and her owner chose to remain on board.After recovering his two crew members, Coxswain Richards returned to station, the lifeboat being rehoused and ready for service at 0130 on Thursday October 8.

For this service a bar to his bronze medal was awarded to Coxswain Joshua W. Richards and the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum were accorded to Crew Members John John and Michael Wilson. Medal service certificates were presented to Second Coxswain William A. Thomas, Assistant Mechanic Roy Young, Emergency Mechanic Denny R. Young and Crew Members Michael Crockford and Roger Crockford..