Yacht among rocks THE NORWEGIAN YACHT Festina-Lente reported by VHP radio at 1333 on Tuesday December 14, 1982, that her engine and steering gear had failed; she was one mile south of St Helier Harbour entrance.

The yacht Saida and the fishing vessel L'Oursin were close at hand and both immediately reported that they were going to the help of the yacht in difficulties.

The duty assistant harbour master, who is a deputy launching authority of St Helier lifeboat station, was informed at 1350 that Festina-Lente was drifting close to the rocks off Demie-de-Pas.

The crew assembled and at 1356 the 44ft Waveney relief lifeboat Faithful Forester, on temporary duty at St Helier, slipped her moorings and set out at full speed. Coxswain Michael Berry was in command.

A fresh to strong breeze, force 5 to 6, was blowing from west south west.

Visibility was good under an overcast sky. Clear of the harbour the sea was moderate to rough with eight feet high breaking waves. The neap tide was starting its third hour of flood.Festina-Lente was sighted very shortly after the lifeboat cleared St Helier's New Harbour. By VHP radio Coxswain Berry learned from the yacht Saida that she had tried to follow Festina-Lente into the rocks to pass a towline. but Saida had had to cast off the towline when she herself was almost carried on to the rocks. Six fishing vessels were lying off Tas de Pois, unable to help the casualty.

The combined effects of the westsouth- westerly breeze and the flood tide flowing at 1 to 2 knots had swept Festina-Lente into a bottleneck among the rocks which was strewn with isolated outcrops. The yacht had an anchor out but was lying across wind and tide and held on jagged rocks. With Acting Second Coxswain David Aubert indicating the position of rock heads, from the foredeck, Coxswain Berry drove the lifeboat into the area of heavily broken water without hesitation.

There was no hope of towing Festina-Lente clear so, swinging the lifeboat's starboard side to the yacht he told her two crew to leap aboard. He then executed a skilful withdrawal, stern first as there was not enough room to turn the lifeboat round.

Only five minutes elapsed between the time the lifeboat passed Tas de Pois heading for Festina-Lente and her return to deep water with the two survivors on board; they were landed into the care of the harbour master at 1422 and the lifeboat was back on her moorings and once again ready for service at 1430. The yacht was carried by the rising tide over the rocks upon which she had been caught; she was swept towards the shore and became a total wreck.

For this service the bronze medal was awarded to Coxswain Michael E. Berry and medal service certificates were presented to Crew Member David Aubert, acting second coxswain, Motor Mechanic Dennis J. Aubert, Emergency Mechanic David G. Mills, acting assistant mechanic, and Crew Members William Hibbs and John C. Gray..