Dragging on to rocks AT 1704 on Sunday September 9, 1984, the honorary secretary of Ilfracombe lifeboat station was informed by Hartland Coastguard that the yacht Liberty needed immediate assistance as she was dragging her anchor close in to the Rapparee Rocks, just outside the outer harbour entrance. One of the two men on board had radioed that his skipper appeared to be dead and that he himself had no experience of boats. Maroons were fired to assemble the crew and at 1716 Ilfracombe's 37ft Oakley class lifeboat, Lloyds II, was launched with Coxswain David Clemence in command and with an ambulanceman on board to attend to the yacht's skipper.

At the time of launch the wind was north westerly force 7, gusting to gale force 8 at times. Visibility was clear, it was an hour and a half before high water and waves, which were about ten feet high outside the inner harbour, reached 20 feet once the lifeboat was clear of the outer harbour. Full speed was maintained from the slipway to the position of the yacht, although the coxswain had frequently to alter course to avoid a series of Dan buoys marking the position of lobster keep cages.

At 1723 the lifeboat reached the yacht; she was head to wind, dragging her anchor rapidly towards Rapparee Beach, some 50 yards away. She was in only about ten feet of water and was touching bottom in the trough of each wave. Rapparee Rock was closer still, only about 20 yards away, and with sheer cliffs just beyond, and Dan buoys close to the casualty, it was impossible for the lifeboat to get alongside to put a man aboard.

The wind was still north-westerly force 7, gusting 8 at times, the sea was very rough with breaking 20 foot waves and the tide was running in from north to south at one to two knots. Liberty was still undamaged but was in imminent danger of being swept on to the rocks. With time and weather working against him, Coxswain Clemence decided to manoeuvre the lifeboat ahead of the casualty and, by stemming the wind, sea and tide, to place the lifeboat's stern within feet of the bow ofLiberty; a tow rope could then passed to tow her clear of the rocks. He would not have time to use the lifeboat's anchor. The man aboard the yacht, standing on the foredeck, was indicating that he wanted to try to swim for the shore. Coxswain Clemence told him to stay on board and to take the tow rope which was about to be passed to him. At this time a Coastguard cliff rescue team arrived on the cliffs overlooking the yacht.

The lifeboat was successfuly positioned, head to wind, and hove within ten feet of the casualty's bow. All the time the lifeboat was pitching violently as Motor Mechanic Wayland Smith made ready the tow rope at the stern of the lifeboat. Both boats were pitching heavily into the rough breaking seas when, at 1736, the tow rope was passed. Coxswain Clemence instructed Liberty's crew member to make fast the tow rope round the main mast. He did this, but was unable then to weigh the yacht's anchor; instead, Coxswain Clemence told him to allow the anchor cable to run out. This made it possible for the lifeboat to pull the yacht clear the rocks.

Because the rough seas still prevented the coxswain putting a man aboard the yacht, he decided to tow her back into harbour. A bridle was rigged to the tow rope at the lifeboat's stern make it easier to turn in the heavy seas.

It took five minutes to turn the lifeboat safely and to take the tow on to westerly course heading back towards the shelter of the harbour. A broad sweep of the bay known as The Range (where boats range at anchor) was needed to accomplish the turn. Both lifeboat and yacht had to endure violent rolling in the seas which were now beam on and, 200 yards from the outer harbour, the lifeboat twice rolled heavily port on to her beam ends in the breaking seas. Throughout the tow a crew member was stationed at the stern with an axe, ready to part the tow rope, should it become necessary.

On reaching the relatively calm waters of the outer harbour, the anchor cable of the yacht was seen to be bar taut; two Dan buoys had fouled her anchor and had been taken in tow. The lifeboat was brought alongside and crew member and the ambulanceman were put aboard the yacht. The lifeboat crew member sawed through the anchor cable, but even in the two minutes that this took, the weight on the cable had pulled the two boats, now lashed together, within 20 yards of the Larkstone Rock. Once the cable parted, the lifeboat was able to pull clear of the Larkstone and manoeuvre into the safety the inner harbour where, at 1808, she and the yacht were berthed alongside the harbour wall. The ambulanceman reported that the yacht's skipper was indeed dead and his body and the survivor were landed ashore. The lifeboat was re-housed, ready again for service at 2330.For this service the bronze medal was awarded to Coxswain David W. Clemence.

Medal service certificates were presented to Second Coxswain Colin D.

Thadwald, Motor Mechanic Wayland Smith, Assistant Mechanic John W.

Fennell and Crew Members Andrew P.

Bengey, David P. Clemence and Maurice J. Woodger..