Five calls WHEN, ON THE, AFTERNOON of Saturday September 17, 1983, the 35ft MFV Arctic Solatair picked up a floating rope around her propeller and went ashore at Skinningrove, about six miles south of Redcar, Tees Coastguard telelphoned the honorary secretary of Redcar station branch to request that the lifeboat should stand by the fishing vessel during her refloating on the following high tide, predicted at 0157 on Sunday September 18.

Redcar's 37ft Oakley lifeboat Sir James Knott launched at 2248 under the command of Coxswain David Buckworth and about half an hour later she was standing clear off Skinningrove. A moderate to fresh breeze, force 4 to 5, was blowing from the south and the sea was slight; the night was generally fair but with heavy rain at times. There was, however, a moderate swell on the shore and, although Arctic Solatair refloated and came clear at 0114, her steering gear was damaged. The lifeboatlifeboat took the disabled fishing vessel under tow and at 0113 set course for Hartlepool, some 13 miles to the north west.

At first Arctic Solatair was taking some water through her damaged steering gear but her crew managed to stem the flow and, despite the fact that the fishing vessel's rudder was jammed to starboard the lifeboat made easy work of the tow in the freshening southerly winds and occasional heavy rain. Hartlepool was reached safely at 0408. After putting the fishing vessel on a mooring, the lifeboat returned to station, arriving at 0509. She was rehoused and ready for service at 0545.

Later that day, at 1255, the boathouse keeper reported to the honorary secretary that a small motor boat with two adults and two children on board was being blown out to sea. The moderate to fresh breeze had by this time gone round to the south west and the sea was choppy; it was two hours before high water. Redcar's D class inflatable lifeboat, manned by Helmsman Trevor Wilberforce and Crew Member Michael Lawes, launched at 1258. Coming alongside a few minutes later she found that the motor boat's engine had failed.

The lifeboat took the casualty in tow and landed her and her four occupants at Redcar at 1318. By 1323 the D class boat was rehoused and ready for service.

Two hours passed and then, at 1514, the honorary secretary received another telephone call to say that a board sailor was in difficulties between Saltburn and Hunt Cliff, 4l/2 miles south east by south of the lifeboat station. By now the south-westerly wind had risen to gale force 8 with a moderate sea and a two to three foot swell; the tide had beenebbing for about half an hour. The D class lifeboat launched within two minutes; Second Coxswain/Mechanic John Price was at her helm this time, with Trevor Wilberforce and Michael Lawes as crew. About ten minutes later the board sailor was found ashore under the Hunt Cliff. The lifeboat picked him up, with his board, and landed him at Saltburn. By 1555 the inflatable lifeboat was again back on station and rehoused.

Half an hour later Tees Coastguard reported another board sailor in difficulties off Saltburn. The south-westerly gale was still blowing, with the tide on the ebb, as the D class inflatable lifeboat launched for the third time, at 1632; manned by Helmsman Trevor Wilberforce and Crew Member Michael Lawes, she drove the 4V2 miles back to Saltburn. After a short search the board sailor was found at 1650 and put ashore. The inflatable lifeboat was then asked by Tees Coastguard to remain in the Saltburn area on stand by until all the board sailors at sea were safely ashore.

While eventually returning from Saltburn, under the lee of the land, the inflatable lifeboat was asked by the Coastguard to investigate a small boat blowing away IVi miles east of the lifeboat station. The wind was increasing all the time so, while the inflatable lifeboat stood by, at 1730 Redcar's 37ft Oakley lifeboat Sir James Knott was also launched; Coxswain Buckworth was in command. Within minutes, a squall, blowing up to strong gale, force 9, with heavy rain and flying spray, had whipped up the sea. By 1740 Sir James Knott was alongside the 17ft open boat, the engine of which had failed. The fourpeople on board were transferred to the Oakley lifeboat; then, taking the casualty in tow, Sir James Knott also escorted the inflatable lifeboat, which had sustained some damage to her port bow bag, back to Redcar. Arriving at 1755, the casualty was beached, her people landed and then both lifeboats were housed for the last time that day; they were both once again ready for service at 1835..