Breaking up SOLENT COASTGUARD informed the honorary secretary of Selsey lifeboat station at 2051 on Wednesday October 5, 1983, that red flares had been sighted close inshore off Selsey Bill and requested that the 15ft 6in D class inflatable lifeboat be launched. When the position of the casualty was confirmed by Selsey Coastguard mobile it was obvious that the station's 48ft 6in Oakley lifeboat could not get near the shoal area and so, although it was dark and the weather heavy, the honorary secretary agreed to launch the D class boat, after he had conferred with Helmsman David Munday; he himself then went by car to the scene of the incident and remained there throughout with Selsey CG mobile. The crew for the Oakley lifeboat also stood by in the boathouse throughout the service.

A strong breeze, force 6, was blowing from the south west and there were heavy confused seas in the area of the off-lying shoals and rocks. Although there was no moon, visibility was generally good. It was about 2Vi hours before high water.

Manned by a very experienced crew, Helmsman Munday together with Crew Members Anthony Delahunty and Nigel Osbourn, the D class inflatable lifeboat was launched from her trolley on the east side of the lifeboat causeway at 2100. With four to five feet high seas it was a hazardous launch, but it was achieved without flooding the boat.

Heading south and west round Selsey Bill, Helmsman Munday drove the in-flatable lifeboat at half speed to navigate the confused seas on the lee side of Kirk Arrow Bank. The casualty, the 54ft motor cruiser Joan Maureen, was sighted at 2115 in the lights of the Selsey CG mobile stationed on the sea wall.

The boat, heading south west, was lying close against the seaward end of a timber groyne, some 40 yards out from the wall.

In the darkness and spray, Helmsman Munday had difficulty in locating the groyne end. He first tried an approach from the east but had to abandon that because of the waves rebounding from the ten foot sea wall and the nearness of the groyne. He circled round to starboard and headed south west. Then, altering course to the north west, Helmsman Munday headed parallel to the inner edge of Hook Sands, where irregular seas up to eight feet high were met. By now it could be seen that the motor cruiser was breaking up and, as her crew's chances in the water would be minimal, speed was essential.

As the lifeboat was brought in towards the port shoulder of the motor cruiser, Helmsman Munday saw that she had an anchor cable leading out from her port bow. He was just changing his heading to clear it when a very heavy breaking sea was sighted on the lifeboat's port quarter; as the boat lifted to an alarming angle and filled with water, Crew Member Osbourn threw himself aft and across the port sponson to counteract the force of the sea with his weight. A capsize to starboard was averted and the inflatable lifeboat was driven hard against the casualty's port side. The time was 2120.

Crew Member Delahunty, taking the lifeboat's painter with him, leapt aboard the cruiser and told the three young men on board to jump. Helmsman Munday and Crew Member Osbourn held the inflatable boat alongside, grasping the cruiser's port stanchions, but these snapped off progressively under the strain. Crew Member Osbourn grabbed one of the three men and pulled him aboard and the other two followed. As Crew Member Delahunty reboarded the lifeboat, HelmsmanHelmsman Munday came slightly astern and then quickly full ahead to clear the casualty to the south west; he was concerned that the flooded inflatable boat with six people on board might be driven on to the groyne and that flotsam from the wrecked boat, which was breaking up, might foul his propeller.

The inflatable lifeboat returned to station at slow speed. While for the passage the extra weight she was carrying added to her stability it would have increased the risks of beaching in the surf. Helmsman Munday therefore landed the three young men on the east side of the lifeboat slipway before, at 2150, beaching the boat. She was refuelled and was once again ready for service at 2200.

For this service the bronze medal was awarded to Helmsman David F. Munday.

Framed letters of thanks signed by the Duke of Atholl, chairman of the Institution, were presented to Crew Members Anthony P. Delahunty and Nigel L. Osbourn..