Yachts in distress THE DEPUTY LAUNCHING AUTHORITY of The Lizard-Cadgwith lifeboat station was telephoned on the evening of Monday September 3, 1984, to be told by Falmouth coastguard that a red flare had been sighted off Poldhu Cove. The maroons were fired and at 1826 The Lizard-Cadgwith's 48ft 6in Oakley class lifeboat, James and Catherine MacFarlane, with Coxswain/Mechanic Peter Mitchell at the helm, launched from her slipway.The wind was blowing force 6 from the south west with gusts of force 8 as the lifeboat steamed at full speed away from the station. Visibility was about two miles between heavy rain squalls; the sky was overcast, the tide slack, low water having passed about half an hour earlier. In the lee of The Lizard the sea had been slight but once the lifeboat was past Lizard Point, four cables to the south, and a course had been set to clear Rill Point at half a mile, the full force of the south-westerly wind was felt and the sea became rough.

Because the lifeboat's VHP radio was not working, Land's End Radio was called so thai they could relay all messages to and from the lifeboat, Falmouth coastguard and a Royal Navy rescue helicopter which had joined the search. At 1850 the lifeboat had Rill Point abeam and altered course to 335°M. Ten minutes later the rescue helicopter reported the position of the casualty, a 22ft yacht, Bass, to be 260°, two and a half miles from Loe Bar. A mile and a quarter west of Pedngwinian Point, the lifeboat adjusted her course again along a bearing, given her by the helicopter, of 310° by three and a quarter miles between her and the yacht.

A further report from the helicopter revealed that there were two yachts involved, one towing the other, making slow progress but being carried closer towards the shore. Wind had increased to gale force, when, at 1949, the position of the two yachts was confirmed by shore based radar and by the helicopter as half a mile off Rinsey Head. At this point the cliff rescue company was called out.

Just past Welloe Rock, Coxswain Mitchell sighted the casualty half a mile ahead of him, about half a mile off Prah Sands. The yacht Bass, single masted with a low freeboard, was pitching and rolling heavily in the rough sea and 12 foot swell. She was also sheering badly under tow of the other, similar yacht and was occasionally shipping seas. The wind was carrying along many squalls and with visibility of half a mile, the coxswain was aware of the proximity of land and surf inshore.

The coxswain approached the seaward side of Bass and decided he had enough time to try to tow her clear of the shore. Her crew appeared to be in good heart and capable of working on the yacht's deck. Using the loud-hailer, Coxswain Mitchell told the three yachtsmen that he was going to pass a heaving line and a tow rope and told them to secure the rope to a strong point forward. The rope was passed and made fast.

Just as the lifeboat was taking up the tow, the yacht Alto, which had been towing but which was now cast free, sailed across the towline. The lifeboat crew slacked down the tow rope in time to prevent it from fouling.

At this moment the rescue helicopter, her task completed, was released to return to RNAS Culdrose. The lifeboat headed south to clear The Stones rock at a speed of no more than two knots.

The yacht had lost her rudder—the cause of her distress—and was sheering considerably.

Twenty minutes later, a red flare was seen by the lifeboat's crew coming from the yacht Alto which had, by now, dropped well astern. The coxswain slowly turned the lifeboat and her tow and steamed back to the yacht. Bringing the lifeboat and tow head to wind, close to Alto, Coxswain Mitchell found her to be all right and apparently comforted by the presence of the lifeboat. She was under control with a storm jib set but was unable to sail clear of the shore.

She had no radio. The coastguards were informed of the situation and were told that the coxswain considered it unwise to try to tow both yachts. The coastguards replied that Penlee lifeboat was launching to assist.

It was at 2049 that Penlee's 52ft Arun class lifeboat, Mabel Alice, slipped her RNLB Mabel Alice.

mooring and headed out of Newlyn harbour with Coxswain Ken Thomas at the helm. Despite the force 6 to 7 westerly wind, there was little effect upon the sea off the east facing harbour.

Visibility was poor through heavy rain squalls under an overcast sky and it was now dark.

On a course of 105°M Penlee lifeboat passed close south of Cudden Point and then two cables north of The Stones rock towards the last known position of the yacht Alto given by the coastguard as half a mile west of Rinsey Head.

Nothing could be seen on reaching this position and the radar also showed nothing due to excessive sea clutter.

Coxswain Thomas then steamed south and, at 2111, rendezvoused with The Lizard-Cadgwith lifeboat. She had resumed the slow tow of Bass, at the same time trying to keep Alto in sight.

Coxswain Mitchell gave an approximate bearing and distance of Alto to Penlee lifeboat which then headed to the west of Welloe Rock. Coxswain Thomas fired off two parachute flares when half a mile south west of Trewavas Head. He then steamed south for a mile, then south east, searching at a moderate speed. At 2130 another flare was fired and this time the yacht was sighted.She was trying to sail across the weather under her storm jib and was almost awash. The three people on board made it clear that they would not abandon their yacht, so a tow line was passed from Penlee lifeboat. The sea was rough with a ten foot swell, less than had been found closer inshore. At 2140 the tow was taken up very slowly to avoid damaging the yacht. Twenty minutes later, Alto's rudder was lost during a particularly violent sheer. On the coxswain's advice, the yachtsmen rigged a lifebuoy to act as a drogue.

This successfully steadied the yacht and towing began again.

South of Mountamopus buoy some lee was experienced and there was less swell; gradually the tow could be increased to half speed and at 2315 lifeboat and yacht entered Newlyn harbour.

Alto was just secured alongside the pier when Falmouth coastguard reported that another yacht, Vivendi, was adrift outside the harbour. Leaving the harbour again at 2322, Mabel Alice took the yacht in tow and returned to Newlyn at 2345 just at the time that The Lizard-Cadgwith lifeboat was arriving with the yacht Bass in tow.

From the time that Penlee lifeboat had left her, The Lizard Cadgwith lifeboat had been continuing the slow tow of Bass, until, at 2155, the line had parted close to the yacht's stem. Giving his intentions over the radio, Peter Mitchell fired a white parachute flare to light the scene as he reconnected the tow. Towing was resumed, still very slowly, but gradually speed was increased as the two boats came under the lee of Penlee Point.

The yacht was eventually secured to the quay inside Newlyn harbour and after hot drinks for the lifeboat's crew, James and Catherine Macfarlane set out again at 0035 to return to her station.

She arrived at 0245, was recovered onto the slipway, refuelled and was ready again for service at 0310 in the morning of September 4.

For this service, the bronze medal was awarded to Coxswain/Mechanic Peter R. C. Mitchell and medal service certificates were awarded to Second Coxswain Ian Mitchell, Assistant Mechanic Henry Johnson and Crew Members David Hill, Robert Francis, Raymond Curnow, Nigel Hill, Philip Burgess and Martin Mitchell. A letter of appreciation, signed by the chief of operations, Cdr Bruce Cairns, was sent to Coxswain Kenneth Thomas and the crew of Penlee lifeboat for their part in this service..