Rope round propeller LATE IN THE AFTERNOON of Friday November 30,1984, the honorary secretary of Fishguard lifeboat station was contacted by Milford Haven coastguard to be told that a 33ft fishing vessel, Oneida, had a rope round her propeller and was being driven on to rocks under Dinas Head.

Maroons were fired and at 1711 the relief 52ft Arun class lifeboat, A. J. R.

and L. G. Uridge, on temporary duty at Fishguard, slipped her moorings and headed out on service under the command of Coxswain Francis George.

With the lifeboat clear of the breakwater, a course of north east by east was set towards Dinas Head.

The wind was south-south-easterly, gale force 8, gusting to severe gale force 9 and the sea, clear of the harbour, was rough with a low confused swell. The tide was in the last hour of ebb, setting to the west. Coxswain George who was in VHP radio contact with the fishing vessel confirmed her exact position under Dinas Head and was also told that she had three anchors out and that she was surrouded by lobster pot marker buoys.Two coasters, Union Gem and Union Emerald, had been sheltering in Fishguard harbour, but on hearing Oneida's distress call, had put to sea to her aid.

They arrived first off Dinas Head and found the fishing vessel almost up against the cliff face and far too close in for them to be able to help. A Sea King helicopter from RAF Brawdy also arrived just before the lifeboat but because of the severe turbulence created by the gale force winds and the steep cliffs, it could not get near the fishing vessel.

A request from the lifeboat coxswain to the helicopter to illuminate the casualty had also to be turned down as it was too dangerous for the aircraft to hover anywhere near the fishing boat.

However, the master of the Union Gem offered to light up the scene from seaward and did so to good effect.

When, at 1724, the lifeboat reached the fishing boat, she was just a few yards from the cliff face amongst pot marker buoys and with three warps streaming to seaward over her starboard bow. Wind and sea were confused because of the severe turbulence caused by the cliffs and the gale force offshore wind blowing over the top of them.

Having carefully considered the situation, the coxswain approached Oneida's stern and a line was passed from the bow of the lifeboat at the first attempt. Two of the fishing vessel's three anchor warps were then recovered.

Her skipper suggested slipping the third which was leading astern but Coxswain George advised him not to as he did not want to add to the amount of loose cordage in the water.

While the three anchor warps were being recovered, the coxswain continually used both helm and engines to maintain his position in the very confined available space. All the time he had to consider the pot marker buoys in the water, a reef running out to the west and the confused sea conditions.

By 1728 all the anchors had been recovered and the lifeboat was skilfully manoeuvred clear of the cliffs stern-first, towing the casualty into deeper water. Then the tow line was transferred to the lifeboat's stern and passage back back to Fishguard harbour began at slow speed.

With the tow safely under way the coasters Union Gem and Union Emerald left the scene to return to Fishguard harbour. The helicopter, too, which had been standing off, also set off back to Brawdy. Just as the lifeboat was entering harbour, at 1820, she lost power on her port engine. The weather made it very difficult for the coxswain to manoeuvre the lifeboat and tow on only the starboard engine; however, ten minutes later, Oneida was safely secured to her own mooring inside the harbour. Her crew of three were landed at the lifeboat slipway and the lifeboat returned to her mooring in the outer harbour as the coxswain decided it would be too risky trying to enter the pen on only one engine. An oil pipe failure was the cause of the engine trouble and this was replaced the next day to put the lifeboat back on full service.

A framed letter of appreciation, signed by the chairman of the RNLI, the Duke of Atholl, was sent to Coxswain Francis George for his part in this service and letters of thanks signed by Rear Admiral W. J. Graham, director, were sent to Second Coxswain David Mortimore, Deputy Second Coxswain Keith Bean, Motor Mechanic Christopher Williams, Emergency Mechanic Roger Strawbridge and Crew Member Nigel Tyrrell for their teamwork on this occasion. A further letter, signed by the director, was sent to the owners of Union Gem, passing on the Institution's appreciation for their help during the service..