Evening Cruise On Tuesday July 5 Harwich branch chartered a harbour ferry for an evening cruise up the River Stour and at 1910 on a perfect summer's evening the ferry set sail with 99 adults and six children on board. The ladies' guild had provided an excellent buffet which, for ease of distribution, was provided in the form of 'doggy bags'. Wine was for sale.

After a pleasant cruise up the river, the ferry approached the quaint port of Mistley, which was to be the turning point before going back down river.

Time 2020, high water slack (good planning by the committee).

As the helmsman swung the wheel to port it was apparent to those mariners aboard, and there were six with master foreign going certificates, that the boat was 'on the putty'. The helmsman considered it best if everyone moved forward; with the vessel tilted by the bow he would back out the way he came in. In order not to embarrass the master mariners, the passengers were advised that the best view of Mistley was from the bow—all passengers move forward.

After strenuous attempts, to no avail, the other way was tried—all passengers move aft. Some 20 minutes later, and you have to envisage 105 RNLI supporters moving back and forth, side to side, and jumping up and down in an effort to refloat the evening paradise. As many will know, once aground with the tide falling you have two options: sit it out with a red face or pick up a scrubbing brush and clean the hull to make the grounding look intentional.

By this time the local river tug arrived, and a tow rope passed. Great excitement as the tug strained in a gallant salvage attempt. To no avail.

A quick committee meeting was held in the wheelhouse; no minutes were taken. Since the ferry was now settling on the bank, dark was approaching and the cooler night air would obviously affect the older passengers, it was decided to ask Harwich Atlantic 21 lifeboat to take off women, children and older passengers.

True to RNLI form, a raffle was held while the passengers waited to be taken off and landed.

The Atlantic 21 arrived shortly after and began to transfer those on board to the shore, which was about 150 metres away. Asking ladies in summer dresses to descend a five foot vertical ladder with handbags, and sometimes doggy bags too, is no easy feat. Reassured by the committee at the top of the ladder and the beaming faces of the lifeboatmen below, passengers disembarked without any problems.

About 18 women and children went ashore on the first trip. The Atlantic returned and in five more trips took off the remaining passengers. Using their initiative, the lifeboatmen obtained a rowing boat which was used as a landing stage. Eventually 99 adults and six children were safely landed and two coaches laid on to repatriate the passengers back to Harwich.

The committee, who in traditional maritime spirit were the last to leave the vessel, were heard to remark, 'The hon sec will not believe this!' An interesting fact, if not a record, is that of the three lifeboat crew members, one rescued his uncle, another his mother and father in addition to his mother- and father-in-law, and the third crew member rescued his brother, sister- in-law and two children, his mother and father.

The event raised £248.10 for RNLI funds—and everyone had enjoyed the evening.—R. w. SHAW, Captain, deputy launching authority and press officer, Harwich branch.

Lottery prize Thank you for your letter, with your cheque for £50, a prize from your national lottery. This gave me great pleasure. In all my 88 years I have never had the pleasure of winning anything from a draw before.—B. j. GILBERT, Mrs, Ipswich.

Help! Can any older members of the RNLI help by locating a Fearnought suit, an item which was apparently carried by some boats? It is needed for inclusion on what is probably the only surviving pre-World War II London docks ambulance, which is being restored. Two other pieces of equipment which are sought are a Riley rocking stretcher and a Novox oxygen set, although neither of these are known to have had RNLI connections. Any help which readers can give will be very much appreciated.

—T. DEAKIN, 27 Hillside Avenue, Worthing, Kent, Sussex BN14 9QR.

'Eleven Years On . . .' It was with great interest, and admiration for the helmsmen, that I read the article 'Eleven Years On . . .' about the Atlantic 21 rigid inflatable lifeboat published in the spring issue of THE LIFEBOAT.

I first encountered the Atlantic 21 when one was sent for trials to my home village of Staithes in 1977, and I must admit that as a shore helper for the 37ft Oakley at nearby Runswick, of which my father, grandfather and uncle had all been coxswains, I was very sceptical about the new 'rubber duck' which was intended to replace her.

However, in September 1977 I went on the North Yorkshire LEA scholarship to the United World College of the Atlantic at St Donat's, South Glamorgan.

As part of the curriculum I had to choose a community service to pursue for two afternoons per week. Naturally I chose to work on the rigid inflatable lifeboat. Thus, by the time an Atlantic 21 was stationed permanently at Staithes in 1978 I had gained a lot of seagoing experience in them and realised their true potential.

At the end of August 1978 I was elected 'captain' of the lifeboat unit at Atlantic College, in effect the coxswain, and during a busy year was the helmsman on over a dozen services. Since leaving in 1979 I have returned there each summer to provide callout cover during the time that the students who normally man the boat are on holiday.

As a result I have had some 600 hours at sea in Atlantics.

At several points during 'Eleven Years On . . .' mention is made of the design and development of the Atlantic 21 and as Roger Trigg states, 'It is amazing what the Atlantic can do and it is a credit to her designers and builders'.

Credit, then, should be given where due and it was Rear Admiral Desmond Hoare, former headmaster of Atlantic College, who was responsible for the initial rigid-hull design inflatable.

From my own experience of using an anchor on the Atlantic 21 I feel it is essential to have one on board. On a service in April 1979 we had to rescue a trapped and injured climber from a cliff face at high tide. With swell breaking against the cliff the only way to get into position without risking damage to the engines was to anchor and veer down using the paddles to give some directional control. Incidentally, the rubber sponsons showed their usefulness in bouncing us off the cliff face without the damage a solid boat would have suffered.

Having said that, I did once have the embarrassment of getting the anchor stuck on a divisional inspector's exercise! As a final point I would add to the praises of the Atlantic's handling in following, beam or head seas. In the gap between Nash Point and Nash Sands the Bristol Channel, on a rough day, has no set wave pattern. Stopper waves, breakers and troughs suddenly appear from all directions. It is in such conditions that the manoeuvrability and acceleration of the Atlantic 21 proves what an excellent craft she is.—COLIN HARRISON, The Moorings, 97 Staithes Lane, Staithes, Cleveland.

Although Admiral Hoare was not mentioned in 'Eleven Years On . . .', which was essentially based on present day experience, his invaluable contribution to the original design and development of the Atlantic 21 is never forgotten. See, for instance, the report in the summer issue of THE LIFEBOAT of the naming last May of American Ambassador at Atlantic College. —EDITOR .

Many congratulations on 'Eleven Years On . . .'. Wonderful stuff and extremely well presented. What exciting boats the Atlantics are! The extraordinary art of handling them really comes across here.—GEORGE MILLAR, Sydling Court, Dorchester, Dorset..