Knockdown THE COASTGUARD informed the deputy launching authority of Flamborough lifeboat station on Monday January 23, 1984, that three Bridlington cobles, Serene, Eva Ann and Challenge, had been caught in worsening weather north of Flamborough Head. At 0920 Flamborough's 37ft Oakley lifeboat The Will and Fanny Kirby, launched directly down her slipway and, under the command of Coxswain James Major, set out on service to the cobles one mile north of the station.

The morning was heavily overcast with sleet squalls, and a near gale, force 7, was blowing from the south east. The sea was rough with a heavy swell; it was l'/2 hours after high water.

The three fishing boats were unwilling to try to come back round Flamborough Head in the deteriorating weather so, at 0955, the lifeboat started to escort them towards Scarborough, further north up the coast.

At about this time the honorary secretary of Scarborough lifeboat station was informed of the situation by the Coastguard. The 37ft Oakley lifeboat Amelia was launched at 1007 and, under the command of Coxswain Ian Firman, headed for Filey Brig to meet the cobles. Amelia joined the escort at 1104 and by 1130 all the boats were off Scarborough.

By now the south-easterly wind hadincreased to gale force 8 with a heavy surf running into the bay. Scarborough lifeboat approached the harbour to assess the situation and it was obvious that the open fishing boats would not be able to enter safely. After consultation it was decided to make for Whitby and that, as more than one of the cobles might run into trouble at the same time, they should be escorted by both lifeboats.

Passage was made, with the cobles having to stop at times to pump out water shipped aboard.

As the little flotilla drew near, Whitby's 44ft Waveney lifeboat The White Rose of Yorkshire slipped her moorings under the command of Coxswain/ Mechanic Peter Thomson. She stood by the entrance while, at about 1350, the three cobles, escorted by the two lifeboats, entered harbour. Whitby lifeboat was back on her mooring at 1415.

After their crews had taken a hot drink, Flamborough and Scarborough lifeboats set out to return south together. They left harbour, with Flamborough lifeboat leading, at 1506. At 1518, clear of Whitby Buoy, both boats drove into a head sea which was not in itself unusually big; behind it, however was a very deep trough into which they landed heavily. The compass on Flamborough lifeboat jumped out of its gimbals; it was replaced and lashed, but, binding on the lashings, it could not be used. While the passage continued, with Scarborough lifeboat now leading, Flamborough lifeboat was informed through the Coastguard that it would be impossible for her to beach at her own station. Both boats therefore made for Scarborough Harbour.

When the two lifeboats arrived off Scarborough they discussed the entry on the VHP radio. By now the wind had backed to east south east and was gusting to storm force 10. It was two hours before high water and the very rough seas and heavy swell were building up rolling breakers into the bay.

Scarborough Coastguard was illuminating the scene with white parachute flares fired from the outer pier.

Scarborough lifeboat ran in down sea without a drogue and, after slowing twice to allow large seas to pass, caught a 'smooth' and ran into the harbour at full speed.

Using the same approach, Flamborough coxswain put out a drogue before running down the sea. A first run was made but Coxswain Major abandoned his approach because of a series of heavy seas and circled round to port. A second run was made but, just as the lifeboat was committed to her course and turning to starboard, a heavy breaking sea, estimated to be 20 to 25 feet high, struck the boat's starboard side knocking her over to port.

At that time Coxswain Major was at the helm; Motor Mechanic Leslie Robson was on the starboard side of the wheelhouse operating the controls;Assistant Mechanic Robin Sunley was in the radar/radio chair; Crew Member David Pockley was on the starboard quarter tending the drogue trip line; Crew Member Kenneth Jewitt was on the port quarter tending the drogue rope, and Crew Members Robert Major, Richard Emmerson and Peter Brigham (who tragically lost his life while fishing some weeks later) were all in the forward well. All the crew were wearing full protective clothing, lifejackets and bump caps, but no one was using a safety line because they were entering shallow water.

The sea knocked the lifeboat over to about 120 degrees and the engine cutout switches operated. Coxswain Major was thrown off the wheel and landed head first on the locker abaft the radio chair but all other crew members hung on. The lifeboat righted and the coxswain regained the wheel. Motor Mechanic Robson pulled the engine controls to neutral and went to the engine start buttons but before the engines could be started the lifeboat was struck by another big sea and was knocked down to port again.

Crew Member Jewitt, tending the main drogue line on the port side, was washed out; as the lifeboat righted he was over the side hanging on to the after stanchion stay. Coxswain Major's shout, 'Man overboard!' brought Crew Member Pockley from the starboard quarter, Assistant Mechanic Sunley from the radar chair and Crew Member Major from the forward well. Before they could pull him in, however, the next sea struck and yet again knocked the lifeboat down to port. When she righted, all four men were washed up on the after side of the wheelhouse well.

In all, five consecutive heavy seas knocked the lifeboat down to port before there was a smooth. After the port engine had been started, the throttles were set full ahead. The drogue had remained taut and pulled the stern around to port and the lifeboat was perfectly lined up to enter harbour.

Once in the safety of the harbour, the starboard engine was started and the drogue recovered.

Mooring alongside, Crew Member Jewitt was taken to hospital for a check-up but was discharged with nothing worse than a bruised hand. There were no other injuries beyond mild bruising. The lifeboat herself was in good order. All gear on deck was still lashed in position and had not moved; no water had entered the lockers, engine room or tank spaces and no loose gear had broken adrift. Some oil had run out of the engine breathers, but when the RNLI's district engineer arrived to check the engines, they were started up and all operated well.

Some water had got into the radar display unit (although the scanner unitwas dry) and into the MF radio. The echo sounder, VHP radio and lights were all working.

After drying out and the replacement of the radar display unit, MF radio and compass, Flamborough crew took their lifeboat to Bridlington on Wednesday January 25 for the compass to be adjusted in Bridlington Bay. The lifeboat then returned to Flamborough and after being hauled up her bottom was checked over; she was back 'on service' at station at 1500.

Coxswain Major and all his crew were delighted with the way their 37ft Oakley class lifeboat The Will and Fanny Kirby had taken them through.

For this service, letters of appreciation signed by Rear Admiral W. J.

Graham, director of the Institution, were sent to Coxswain James R. Major and his crew of Flamborough lifeboat and to Coxswain Ian Firman and his crew of Scarborough lifeboat..