Anchor dragged THE HONORARY SECRETARY of Tenby lifeboat station was informed by HM Coastguard at 0445 on Sunday September 25, 1983, that the yacht Sailing Bye had dragged her anchor and was aground on the north beach, Tenby. Maroons were fired and at 0455 the 46ft 9in Watsonclass lifeboat Henry Comber Brown launched on service with Second Coxswain John John in command.

It was five hours before high water. A fresh onshore breeze, force 5, was blowing from the east and the sea was rough with a moderate swell.

The yacht was sighted immediately, aground some 400 yards west north west of the lifeboat station. Acting Coxswain John headed for her at full speed, arriving in three minutes after launching.

He found that the casualty, a 27ft deep keel yacht, was heading about south east and lying broadside to the heavy surf; she was listing well over to starboard and being buffeted by the seas. There were two men and three children on board.

Before launching Acting Coxswain John had put the station Avon Redstart inflatable dinghy on board. With the young flood flowing along the shoreline he decided not to anchor but to hold his position using his engines and to veer the small inflatable down to the yacht with a warp. The surf running in to the beach was estimated to be five to six feet high.

Crew Members Nicholas Crockford and Nicholas Tebbutt manned the inflatable.

They rowed down towards the yacht under the watchful eye of Acting Coxswain John who, by adjusting his position in relation to the drift of the dinghy, greatly helped in the transfer of the line.

By 0507 the line was made fast aboard Sailing Bye. Acting Coxswain John was then able to steady the yacht while the inflatable was taken round to her stern, where the two crew members took aboard the youngest of the three children, a nine year old. The shore being closer than the lifeboat, they then rowed in through the surf and handed the child into the care of the waiting Coastguard.

Preparing to relaunch the inflatable dinghy, Crew Member Tebbutt manned the oars while Crew Member Crockford remained in the water to steady the boat and push off through the surf. Just as they were about to return to the yacht a large sea swamped the inflatable and capsized her, throwing Crew Member Tebbutt into the water as well. The boat was righted but, as it looked as though any further attempts to row out would be unsuccessful, the two lifeboatmen decided to try to push the inflatable out through the surf to the casualty.

With one crew member on each side the inflatable was successfully taken back to the yacht. During this operation both men were frequently totally immersed and lifted off their feet but, with great courage and determination, they persevered. The other two children, both aged 11, were ferried safely back to the beach in this way and by about 0518 had been handed into the care of the Coastguard.

Throughout this operation Acting Coxswain John had maintained his position, illuminating the scene with hissearchlight and steadying the yacht with the warp. Now that the children were safely ashore he began to tow the boat, with the two men still on board, off the beach into deeper water. All the indications were that she was still sound and, once clear of the surf, a check was made to confirm that all was well.

The yacht was towed to a safe mooring outside Tenby Harbour and secured at 0530. As it was too rough to rehouse the lifeboat she was placed on her mooring. The two men and the three children were all taken by the deputy launching authority to his home where they were given hot baths, dry clothing and warm drinks.

For this service the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum were accorded to Crew Members Nicholas R.

Crockford and Nicholas Tebbutt and a framed letter of thanks signed by the Duke of Atholl, chairman of the Institution, was sent to Second Coxswain John John, acting coxswain. Vellum service certificates were presented to Crew Member Mike Crockford, acting second coxswain, Motor Mechanic Charles H. Crockford, Assistant Mechanic Roy Young and Crew Members Denny Young and William M.

Truman..