Nine rescued TYNEMOUTH COASTGUARD telephoned the honorary secretary of Tynemouth lifeboat station at 1511 on Sunday April 11, 1982. to tell him that the angling boat Blue Fin appeared to be in distress south of Tyne Piers. Eleven minutes later Tynemouth's D class inflatable lifeboat was launched on service manned by Helmsman Trevor Fryer and Crew Member Stuart Brown.

It was a cold, cloudy afternoon, but clear. A strong breeze, force 6, was blowing from the north. It was three hours before high water.

Full speed was made to clear Tyne Piers, where the full force of the northerly wind was causing a rough, breaking sea. The lifeboat turned south towards Herd Wreck Buoy and, as spray was reducing visibility, a check on the angling boat's position was requested from the Coastguard; South Shields Coastguard mobile reported her to be off Trow Point. Because the casualty was not far off rocks, the inflatable lifeboat, as she continued on her way, asked for the help of Tynemouth's 52ft Arun lifeboat George and Olive Turner.

Crew members were already assembled and the Arun slipped her moorings at 1540 under the command of Second Coxswain Martin Kenny.

Meanwhile, the D class inflatable lifeboat had sighted the casualty, a cabin cruiser about 25 feet overall; her anchor was down but apparently dragging.

Four people could be seen in her after well.

The strong northerly breeze was still blowing and there was a moderate swell with rough breaking seas up to 12 feet high. Because of the rocks near by, it was decided to take off the anglers.

Helmsman Trevor Fryer immediately ran down Blue Fin's port side, rounded her stern and came alongside her starboard side. Five more people appeared from the cabin and all nine jumped into the inflatable lifeboat; the lifeboat cleared the casualty at 1532 and started towards the Tyne.

With nine survivors and two crew members aboard the inflatable lifeboat started shipping the rough head seas and filling with water; nor could her self bailers clear the water coming aboardbecause, with the extra weight she was carrying, the lifeboat could make only slow speed through the water. Climbing the seas was difficult and to stop solid water being shipped Helmsman Fryer got Crew Member Stuart Brown and the nine anglers to sit round the sponsons, facing inboard, to break the weight of the seas.

At 1552 the inflatable lifeboat entered the sheltered waters of the Tyne passing the Arun on her way out, and the anglers were landed at Tynemouth station three minutes later.

The Arun continued out to the abandoned boat but could do nothing to help her. Blue Fin's anchor warp finally parted and she drove ashore and broke up on the rocks. The Arun returned to station and was back on her moorings, once again ready for service, at 1640.

For this service the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum were accorded to Helmsman Trevor Fryer and a vellum service certificate was presented to Crew Member Stuart Brown..