Tug escorted YARMOUTH COASTGUARD informed the honorary secretary of Wells lifeboat station at 1245 on Monday April 11, 1983, that Dockman, a 70ft ex-river tug which had been on passage from London to Newcastle but whose radar and compass were unserviceable, was being escorted to Wells by MFV Isabelle Kathleen.

Skipper John Nudds had left Wells in Isabelle Kathleen on the morning tide for whelk fishing in the vicinity of Dudgeon Lightvessel. At that time the winds were gentle and the sea slight.

The weather began to deteriorate rapidly, however, and he had just decided to return to harbour when he sighted Dockman in difficulties and offered to guide her to Wells.

At 1525 it was reported that Isabelle Kathleen had lost contact with Dockman in heavy rain squalls and lifeboat help was requested. Maroons were fired and at 1538 the 37ft Oakley relieflifeboat, Calouste Gulbenkian, on temporary duty at Wells, was launched and set out on service under the command of Coxswain David Cox.

By now the north-easterly wind had risen to strong gale, force 9. There was very low cloud with constant drizzle and in some rain squalls visibility was reduced to 500 yards. It was three hours before high water, two days before spring tides.

The lifeboat made for the harbour mouth and stood by, inside the bar, while Isabelle Kathleen entered harbour, the weather having deteriorated to the point where it was unsafe for her to remain at sea. By 1607 Isabelle Kathleen was safely in harbour and the lifeboat put to sea.

The heavy north-easterly ground swell was producing high steep seas with broken water everywhere, so Coxswain Cox took the lifeboat out of harbour head to sea, passing directly over the bar, and then held a northeasterly course for \Vi miles before he considered it prudent to alter course to the north west to approach the tug Dockman, now in the vicinity of Bridgirdle Buoy. Because of the weather, the lifeboat was down to half speed and constantly had to turn head to sea.

The tug was sighted at 1638 but two minutes later the lifeboat was hit by a very large sea on the starboard bow which swamped her and filled the cockpit with water up to the necks of those sitting down. The radar failed and VHF radio communication became difficult.

Nevertheless, at 1650 the lifeboat reached Dockman, which was slowly circling around Bridgirdle Buoy waiting for her.

The wind, still north east, had by now risen to storm force 10 and there was a strong flood tide flowing eastwards at 3'/2 knots. With wind against tide, in the shallow water in the vicinity of Bridgirdle Buoy the seas were about 20 feet high and very steep with the crests constantly breaking. With low cloud and drizzle, visibility was no more than l'/2 miles.

Coxswain Cox immediately advised the tug to follow the lifeboat, with the intention of escorting her to King's Lynn because it was considered too dangerous to try to enter Wells in the prevailing weather. However, the tug replied that she was short of fuel and that her crew were suffering badly from seasickness. Coxswain Cox then altered course to the south west for Brancaster Roads, where the seas might be easier, to assess the position. During the course of communication, the tug told the lifeboat that she would be unable to put out an anchor, so Coxswain Cox asked that Brancaster fishermen should be consulted about the possibility of entering Brancaster Harbour. The tug continued to follow the lifeboat on a south-westerly course.

Cyril Southerland, skipper of the Brancaster MFV Isabel Deborah, volunteered to take his boat out to assess thesituation at the entrance to the harbour; Richard Southerland and James Petchey went out with him as crew. At 1754 he informed Wells lifeboat that there was adequate water for the tug to enter harbour and that he would stand by to act as guide. The lifeboat then told the tug to follow her into Brancaster and to listen out for Isabel Deborah who would guide them both in.

At 1805 the lifeboat was approaching harbour and at 1821 she crossed the bar closely followed by the tug. They then followed Isabel Deborah along the shore towards Brancaster Harbour in heavy beam seas and at 1842 they were in the harbour under the lee of Scolt Head. As the tug crew were exhausted and her engines, belching black smoke, were failing, the lifeboat went alongside and her crew helped the master to anchor his vessel. The lifeboat was then placed on a safe mooring for the night, it being imprudent to return to Wells through the storm with darkness falling.

Passage back to Wells was made on Tuesday April 12, the lifeboat arriving at 1830. Repairs having been made to her radar and VHF radio, she was once again on full service on April 13.

For this service a framed letter of thanks signed by the Duke of Atholl, chairman of the Institution, was presented to Coxswain David Cox, BEM.

Letters of appreciation signed by Rear Admiral W. J. Graham, director, were sent to John R. Nudds, skipper of MFV Isabelle Kathleen and Cyril A. R.

Southerland, skipper of MFV Isabel Deborah..