THREE MEN who had set out to cross the Inner Wash from the River Nene to Hunstanton in a bathtub on Monday September 13, 1982, were reported overdue at 2115; the tub was lashed to inner tubes and an inflatable dinghy and powered by an outboard engine. Yarmouth Coastguard informed the honorary secretary of Hunstanton lifeboat station and at 2128 the relief Atlantic 21 rigid inflatable lifeboat on temporaryduty at Hunstanton launched on service manned by Helmsman Alan Clarke and Crew Members Gerald Wase. Victor Dade and Michael Wallace.

It was a fine night with a light breeze blowing from the south and the sea was calm. The Coastguard had been told that the three men had intended to keep inshore on their passage, so the Atlantic set out to search up to King's Lynn.

First she searched across Stubborn Sand to Cork Hole. By now it was low water neaps. At No 3 Buoy a parachute flare was fired, but nothing was seen. The boat's searchlight then failed so she continued all the way to King's Lynn Docks using hand lamps and parachute flares.

Meanwhile, an SAR helicopter was searching the marshes and banks and Hunstanton Coastguard CRC were searching on foot across the mud flats.

Nothing was seen, so at 2355 the Atlantic 21 returned slowly from King's Lynn to Hunstanton; the lifeboat was recovered at 0130 on Tuesday September 14 with the intention of resuming the search at daybreak.

Four hours later, at 0530, the crew reassembled, but as very thick fog had now formed the Atlantic 21 did not launch until 0710. With Helmsman Alan Clarke were now Crew Members Charles Groundsell, Arthur Osborne and John Hawkes.

Searching started inshore at a quarter ebb from Hunstanton to south west of Heacham. At 0914 the Atlantic crossed the sands to Cork Hole. Visibility was still down to 30 yards and, overrunning the channel, the lifeboat grounded on Styeman's Middle Sand; she worked off again and then returned to Hunstanton as it was thought unwise to continue until visibility had opened out. At 1014, with visibility up to half a mile, the Atlantic set out again, re-crossing thesands to Cork Hole and then heading up channel. An SAR helicopter took off at 1055, having been unable to do so before because of the fog.

The lifeboat sighted an object on Peter Black Sand; Crew Members Groundsell and Osborne went to investigate, but it was only a packing case.

Several fishing boats were met, including one by Lynn Barrier Wall which had run aground on Breast Sand, but none of them had seen anything of the missing men. The Atlantic tried to get through to the old Lynn Channel at 13A Buoy, but with the tide ebbing there was not enough water. Her fuel running low, the Atlantic returned to Hunstanton at 1130 to refuel and change crews.

Helmsman Clarke went through the charts with Helmsman Rodney Hicks, who was going to take over from him, to decide the best way of covering the area not already searched and then the Atlantic 21 relaunched at 1230; her crew members were now Arthur Osborne, Gerald Wase and Michael Wallace.

The lifeboat set course for Roaring Middle, passing Lynn No 3 and Lynn No 1 Buoys on the way. The intention was to search down Roaring Middle Ridge and then on down into Lynn Channel. When approaching Roaring Middle No 2 Buoy, however, an object was sighted in the water l'/2 cables to starboard. The Atlantic changed courseand as she came nearer she saw a man waving an oar. It was the missing bathtub.

Its outboard engine had run out of fuel and there was no anchor on board; the three men had no food or drink.

They were taken aboard the lifeboat and treated for exposure. The bath and its fittings were also taken on board and the lifeboat returned to station where the three men were seen by the honorary medical adviser. The lifeboat was rehoused and once again ready for service at 1430.

For this service a letter signed by Rear Admiral W. J. Graham, director, expressing the Institution's appreciation to Helmsmen Alan J. Clarke and Rodney W. F. Hicks and their crews, was sent to Mr J. T. Day, Hunstanton station honorary secretary..