Capsized dinghy ON THE AFTERNOON of Wednesday May 11, 1983, both lifeboats stationed at Eastbourne were launched to help the fishing vessel Dawn Anne, in difficulties with a broken fuel line 1 '/2 miles east of the lifeboat station; she had two people on board. A message came from Eastbourne Coastguard to the honorary secretary at 1550.

A fresh breeze, force 5, gusting to strong breeze, force 6, was blowing from the south west, with a moderate to rough sea causing a steady surf on the beach edge. High water had passed at 1058 and there was negligible tidal stream.

The relief D class inflatable lifeboat temporarily stationed at Eastbourne was called out first; she was launched from the beach, out through the surf, at 1600 manned by Helmsman Paul Metcalfe and Crew Members John Cooper and Ian Stringer. Eastbourne's 37ft 6in Rother lifeboat Duke of Kent launched at 1701 under the command of Coxswain/ Mechanic Ronald Wheeler.

After passing a towline from Dawn Anne to Duke of Kent, the D class inflatable lifeboat remained in the area, being later asked by Coxswain Wheeler to check a number of small boats and sailboards about half a mile further east.

Returning at about 1800 to Dawn Anne, now under tow of the Rother, the inflatable lifeboat helmsman and crew kept a weather eye open for any other small boats. The wind had by now increased to strong breeze, force 6, gusting to near gale, force 7, and the four to five feet seas were breaking. At about 1825 Helmsman Metcalfe sighted a small capsized dinghy to westward, about half a mile off Eastbourne Pier.

Leaving the tow, the inflatable dinghy headed into the sea at best speed.

On arrival near the capsized dinghy, the lifeboatmen saw a woman and a child, aged 12, clinging to the keel; the woman was holding a second child.aged 10. Crew Member Cooper entered the water, at the helmsman's request, righted the dinghy without difficulty and helped the three people back on board. The dinghy was waterlogged, however, and immediately capsized again, throwing the woman and one child back into the water; the second child went over with the dinghy but did not emerge, having become entangled in the halyards beneath the sail. Crew Member Cooper immediately swam under the sail and released the child.

Helmsman Metcalfe then drove the inflatable lifeboat against the dinghy and he and Crew Member Stringer recovered the woman and two children from the water, wrapping one child in a survivor's sheet. Crew Member Cooper was then helped back aboard. All three dinghy sailors were now very cold, the woman was exhausted and the children frightened. They were safely landed at the lifeboat slipway to a waiting ambulance.

They were taken to hospital where they were found to be suffering mild hypothermia, but they were discharged the next day.

At 1905 the inflatable lifeboat relaunched to resume her original escort of Dawn Anne. The Rother lifeboat had towed the fishing vessel slowly westward towards the fishing beach, but arriving there had had to heave to off the shore to await enough water, with the rising tide, to beach the casualty.

When it was possible to beach the fishing vessel safely, the inflatable lifeboat took the towline from the Rother and passed it to the shore party.

The D class inflatable lifeboat was rehoused, refuelled and once more ready for service at 1950. The 37ft 6in Rother Duke of Kent was rehoused and ready for service at 2017.

For this service the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum were accorded to Crew Member John D.

Cooper. Framed letters of thanks signed by the Duke of Atholl, chairman of the Institution, were presented to Helmsman Paul S. Metcalfe, and Crew Member Ian L. Stringer..