Cobles escorted in gale THE HONORARY SECRETARY of Flamborough lifeboat station was told by HM Coastguard at 1010 on Saturday October 15, 1983, that a number of Bridlington based open angling cobles were fishing north of Flamborough Head in very bad weather and would eventually have to return round Flamborough Head to Bridlington Harbour. He decided to fire the maroons and at 1027 Flamborough's 37ft Oakley lifeboat The Will and Fanny Kirby was launched under the command of Coxswain James Major. A southerly gale force 8 was blowing and as the lifeboat neared the fishing fleet, the wind was gusting onoccasions to storm force 10; the sea was worsening from moderate to rough.

By 1110 Bridlington's 37ft Oakley class lifeboat William Henry and Mary King had also been launched with Coxswain Fred Walkington in command, ready to escort any returning cobles into harbour. One of the cobles, Friends, was escorted by Flamborough lifeboat in the heavy swell and severe southerly gale southwards round Flamborough Head to South Landing where Bridlington lifeboat took over the escort. The coble was brought safely into Bridlington Harbour through very heavy and confused breaking seas.

Bridlington Coastguard provided added safety with line throwing gear on the pier ends.

Meanwhile, Flamborough lifeboat had returned to the fishing fleet to stand by a commercial fishing coble, Provide Us, which was fishing two miles east of Flamborough Head. Because of the extreme weather conditions at Bridlington she decided, together with the rest of the fleet to the north of her, to run for Scarborough. Some of the cobles disembarked their passengers at North Landing where there was some shelter so that the seas close in, near to Flamborough lifeboathouse, were reasonable; they then continued on to Scarborough.

The honorary secretary at Scarborough was alerted and at 1233 the 37ft Oakley relief lifeboat Mary Joicey, on temporary duty at the station, launched under the command of Coxswain Ian Firman to meet the cobles and Flamborough lifeboat.

On reaching a point to the north of Filey Brig, Flamborough lifeboat handed over escort duty to Scarborough lifeboat after she had been informed by HM Coastguard that Bridlington lifeboat had located another commercial fishing coble, Serene, previously unaccounted for, some ten miles south east of Bridlington. She had not been answering Coastguard radio calls but Coxswain Walkington, appreciating the situation, worked south into the gale and successfully located the coble at 1338. On his instructions the coble put all her fishing gear over the side to lighten ship and was then escorted towards Flamborough Head. At 1522, off North Landing, Coxswain Walkington handed the coble over to Flamborough lifeboat for onward passage to Scarborough and, returning to Bridlington, safely beached the lifeboat at 1640; she was rehoused at 1700.

Scarborough lifeboat had successfully escorted 17 of the cobles through the tideway at Filey and on to Scarborough and had returned to bring in the remaining seven that were being escorted by Flamborough lifeboat when she was called south to take over the escort of Serene. At 1605 Coxswain Firman returned to Filey Bay to rendezvous with Flamborough lifeboat and take over escort duty of this last fishing vessel.

Flamborough lifeboat returned to station at 1700 and was ready for service again at 1800, while Scarborough lifeboat continued to Scarborough with the coble; she entered harbour at 1710 and was rehoused, once again ready for service, at 1737.

For this service, letters signed by Cdr Bruce Cairns, chief of operations, were sent to the honorary secretaries of Flamborough, Bridlington and Scarborough lifeboat stations expressing the Institution's appreciation respectivelyto Coxswain James Major, Coxswain Fred Walkington and Coxswain Ian Firman, and their crews..