Eastbourne: While the station's 37ft 6in Rather class lifeboat, Duke of Kent, was out on exercise on the morning of Sunday September 9, 1984, a sailboarder was seen from the shore to be in difficulty and the Coastguard asked Coxswain/Mechanic Graham Cole to investigate.

The sea was rough and a westerly near gale, force 7, was blowing when the lifeboat reached the sailboarder. He was very tired and cold and asked that he and his sailboard be taken aboard. The lifeboat then returned to station and the man can be seen (left) being landed on the beach.

photograph by courtesy of Thelma Connolly.