Rising winds RYE AUXILIARY COASTGUARD requested the launch of Rye Harbour lifeboat at 1350 on Saturday October 3 following reports that the 24ft ketch Midley Belle was heading out to sea. It was a squally afternoon with moderate confused seas over Rye Bar. At 1354 Rye Harbour's D class inflatable lifeboat was launched manned by Helmsman Richard Tollett and Crew Members Colin James and Jeffrey Robus. While the lifeboat was still within the river, however, she was recalled because the yacht cleared the bar safely.

The lifeboat was rehoused at 1420 but the deputy launching authority and auxiliary coastguard remained at the harbour mouth keeping watch. When, at 1516 as Midley Belle was trying to return to harbour, she was seen to lose her main sheet, the lifeboat was asked to launch again; the yacht had also suffered engine failure and was now in a dangerous position in the bar surf.

The lifeboat launched on service at 1519 manned by Helmsman Keith Downey and Crew Members Richard Tollett and Philip Jones.

The wind, which had been westerly moderate to fresh, was rising and the seas over the bar were eight feet high; it was almost one hour after high water.

With great skill Helmsman Downey took the inflatable lifeboat safely through the 50 yard passage over the bar. The yacht had by now been carried a mile eastward towards Camber Sands and as the lifeboat reached her at 1525 her skipper indicated that three of the seven people on board needed to be taken off.

Three approaches were made, each run being timed to coincide with a wave trough. Each time the lifeboat drew alongside, one of the three people waiting, two women and a boy, jumped into the boat on the helmsman's order.

Up to this point Midlev Belle had been in extremely shallow water but when, at 1530, Rye lifeboat cleared the yacht her skipper thought he could get his boat under command and steer off the land. The help of Dungeness lifeboat, the 37ft 6in Rother Alice Upjohn, was now requested by the Coastguard; she launched on service at 1538 under the command of Coxswain William Richardson and set out at full speed.

Helmsman Downey landed the two women and the boy immediately inside the harbour mouth, from where they were driven to an ambulance.

By 1550 Rye D class inflatable lifeboat was once again on her way out over the bar. The wind was still rising and twelve feet seas covered the area.

Helmsman Downey cleared the bar and after some ten minutes in the open seasighted Midley Belle sailing on a safe course to the south south east, where Dungeness Rother lifeboat would meet her in some 40 minutes.

After two very heavy seas had filled the Rye inflatable lifeboat, Helmsman Downey decided it would be prudent to return to station. The wind was now gale force 8 gusting to strong gale force 9 against a full ebb tide and, with only three feet of water on the bar, the homeward passage was extremely hazardous; continual changes of course and speed had to be made to counter the seas. Rye Harbour lifeboat returned to station at 1605 and was once again ready for service at 1630.

Dungeness lifeboat came up with Midley Belle at 1705 and as the wind, now south westerly, was gusting to storm force 10 with heavy rain it was decided that it would be safer to take off her crew in the shelter of Dungeness.

The yacht was therefore taken in tow to a safe anchorage 2'/2 miles north east by north of Dungeness Lighthouse. Her four remaining crew were transferred to the lifeboat and brought ashore.

Dungeness lifeboat returned to station at 1845 and she was rehoused and once again ready for service at 1910.

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

Letters of appreciation signed by Rear Admiral W. J. Graham, director, were sent to Crew Members Richard Tollett and Philip A. Jones of Rye Harbour lifeboat station. A letter signed by Admiral Graham expressing the Institu- • lion's appreciation to Coxswain William Richardson and his crew was sent to Mr W. J. Oilier, Dungeness station honorary secretary..