Swim to yacht A YACHT AGROUND on rocks in the vicinity of Beckermet, about six miles south of St Bees, was reported to the honorary secretary of St Bees lifeboat station by Liverpool Coastguard at 0400 on Sunday August 29, 1982. It was an overcast morning and there was a near gale, force 7, blowing from north north east; the sea was rough and immediate help was needed.

The D class inflatable lifeboat was towed to Nethertown Beach, accompanied by the honorary secretary, deputy launching authority and crew members and a search along the shore started.

Meanwhile, at 0500 Workington lifeboat station's 47ft Watson lifeboat Francis W. Wotherspoon of Paisley slipped her moorings and set out under the command of Coxswain Albert Brown to stand by.

The yacht, Ruffian, was soon sighted from the beach by the light of parachute flares. She was stranded on a rocky outcrop about 200 yards from the shore and she was being pounded by heavy seas. In view of the near gale and rough seas. St Bees D class inflatable lifeboat was launched about 300 yards further north along the beach, in relatively sheltered water, manned by Helmsman Jack Southam and Crew Member Bill Forbes. As she set out, at 0528, those watching from the shore could see that the yacht would not last much longer; there were two men and a boy on board. Crew Members Ian McDowell and Malcolm Reid Jnr, both dressed in wet suits and both first class swimmers, volunteered to swim out to the yacht.

At first the honorary secretary thought that, as the yacht's crew were relatively safe on board, it would be better to await the arrival of the Coastguard rescue team. Then, by the light of their second last parachute flare, the people on shore saw a huge sea hit the yacht, throwing her on her beam ends.

The honorary secretary told the two crew members, Ian McDowell and Malcolm Reid Jnr, to don their lifejacketsand ignite their lifejacket safety lights and he then gave consent for them to enter the sea. Their progress was watched by the light of a hand-held spotlight until they were lost from view in the rough seas. The last parachute flare was fired and the shore party was relieved to see the two lifeboatmen returning with the three people from the yacht, one of whom appeared to be in some distress.

The honorary secretary and remaining crew ran into the surf to help bring the survivors ashore. The boy was found to be suffering from exposure but fortunately he was not injured; he was wrapped in a jacket and carried up to the Coastguard mobile, which had now arrived. The two men and the boy were taken immediately to hospital.

St Bees D class lifeboat returned to her launching position and was recovered on to her trailer; she was back on station, once again ready for service by 0830. Workington Watson lifeboat was back on her moorings by 0620.

The 22ft yacht Ruffian, which had been on passage from West Kirby to Castletown, broke up on the rocks.

For this service, framed letters of thanks signed by the Duke of Atholl, chairman of the Institution, were presented to Crew Members Ian McDowell and Malcolm Reid Jnr of St Bees, and a letter signed by Rear Admiral W. J.

Graham, director, expressing the RNLI's appreciation to everyone at St Bees who had taken part in the rescue, was sent to Captain L. Goldwater, the station honorary secretary..