Steering failure LIVERPOOL COASTGUARD informed the honorary secretary of New Brighton lifeboat station at 1400 on Sunday August 29, 1982, that the yacht Ocea was acting in an erratic manner and appeared to be in difficulties just north of Great Burbo Bank. The Coastguard had been alerted by another yacht, Whiteout, which was standing by, maintaining communications on VHP radio and sending regular reports. Maroons were fired and at 1410 New Brighton's Atlantic 21 rigid inflatable lifeboat Blenwatch was launched on service manned by Helmsman Edward 'Bev' Brown and Crew Members Michael Jones, Dale Kaye and Tom Baker.

A fresh breeze, force 5, was blowing from the south south west. The sea was slight with waves of three to four feet; it was three-quarters of an hour before low water and there was a small ebb running. Visibility was five miles.

After launching, Helmsman Brown set course to pass west of Great Burbo Bank so that he could approach Ocea from the seaward end of the main channel.

The Coastguard were now told by Whiteout that Ocea was in the main channel and that, although the Coastguard had asked that she return to the River Mersey in company with Whiteout, she appeared to be continuing her sail. Nevertheless, with the wind freshening and the tide starting to flood, Helmsman Brown decided to make sure that all was well.

On seeing the Atlantic 21 lifeboat approaching the scene of action, Whiteout headed back down the main channel to make for shelter. The breeze, still from south south west, had increased to strong, force 6, gusting to near gale, force 7. Generally the seas were eight to ten foot high but in the shallow water over the banks wind and tide were building up waves of 12 to 15 feet. The tide was now flooding to the south east at about 2 to 3 knots.

Ocea was sighted across the other side of the main channel over the revetment wall, heading east towards Taylors Bank and some very rough water.

Helmsman Brown knew that she was running into trouble and headedstraight across to warn her; in this crossing through rough water Crew Member Jones fell on to the port lifting eye and was slightly injured. Before the Atlantic 21 could reach Ocea, however, the yacht broached in a large sea, gybed violently and appeared to lose control.

It was 1445 when the Atlantic came up with Ocea. There were two men on board, the elder of whom was exhausted, and, in the prevailing conditions Helmsman Brown thought it would be too dangerous to try to take them off. He took the lifeboat in and on the second approach Crew Member Jones managed to jump on to Ocea. He found that the yacht was indeed not answering her helm; her steering gear had failed and so it was decided to take her in tow. Survivor lifejackets were passed over for the yachtsmen and then two paddles to help steer Ocea.

With the yacht in tow, Helmsman Brown did not think it wise either to cross Taylors Bank or to head into the seas to try to go round the bank. He decided to keep the sea on his quarter and head for Southport. A bucket was streamed from the yacht as a makeshift sea anchor to prevent a tendency to sheer to port and the tow started at 1450. A Coastguard mobile followed the progress of the tow from the shore and recommended that Hoylake lifeboat be launched to stand by. So, at 1550, Hoylake's 37ft 6in Rother lifeboat Mary Gabriel was launched on service under the command of Coxswain John McDermott and course was shaped for the position of the tow.

Meanwhile, New Brighton Atlantic, with Ocea in tow, was heading towards Southport at about 2 to 3 knots, with the wind freshening all the time. Opposite Birkdale a large cresting wave knocked the yacht on to her beam ends.

The sea anchor made with a bucket was lost and another had to be contrived before the tow could continue.

Hearing from the Coastguard that conditions at Southport were impossible, Helmsman Brown decided to head for the estuary of the Ribble. Even then, he thought that the seas would be too bad for the Atlantic to attempt the river entrance with her tow, and so he asked that Lytham-St Annes lifeboat should launch.

The relief 46ft 9in Watson lifeboat Sir Godfrey Baring, on temporary duty at Lytham-St Annes, slipped her moorings at 1714 under the command of Coxswain Arthur Wignall and set out to rendezvous with New Brighton Atlantic off Wall End Buoy at the entrance to the Ribble. While waiting for Sir Godfrey Baring, Helmsman Brown maintained steerage way heading into the seas. The waves were now 15 to 20 feet high and some of them were breaking.

Lifeboat and tow were dropped heavily into several troughs and at times the lifeboat crew could see right under Ocea's hull.

Sir Godfrey Baring arrived off Wall End Buoy at 1730 and, manoeuvringwith great skill in the large, breaking seas, Helmsman Brown passed the tow across to the Watson lifeboat. During the tow the elder of the two yachtsmen had recovered and so it was decided to transfer them both to Lytham-St Annes lifeboat for the difficult passage into the Ribble. It took seven approaches by New Brighton Atlantic before the two yachtsmen and Crew Member Jones were all taken off Ocea. Then, after two attempts, the two yachtsmen were safely transferred to Lytham lifeboat; it was an operation which called for great skill from both crews.

The whole manoeuvre was completed by 1800. The Watson lifeboat Sir Godfrey Baring then took Ocea into the Ribble and placed her on moorings and put her crew ashore; she was back on her moorings and once again ready for service by 1945. New Brighton Atlantic 21 lifeboat Blenwatch rendezvoused with Hoylake's Rother lifeboat Mary Gabriel at 1815 and was escorted back to the main channel leading into the River Mersey. Mary Gabriel then returned to Hoylake and was recovered and once again ready for service at 2115. Blenwatch returned to New Brighton and was rehoused and ready for service at 2035.

For this service the bronze medal was awarded to Helmsman Edward B.

Brown of New Brighton and the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum were accorded to Crew Member Michael Jones; medal service certificates were presented to Crew Members Dale Kaye and Tom Baker. Letters signed by Lt-Cdr Brian Miles, deputy director, expressing the Institution's appreciation to the crews of Hoylake and Lytham-St Annes lifeboats were sent respectively to Coxswain John McDermott and Coxswain Arthur Wignall..