Escorted yacht in gale A FORCE 8 west-north-westerly gale was blowing at midday on Thursday September 5, 1985, when the yacht, Sea Mirage, was on passage from Port St Mary on the Isle of Man, heading for Heswell in the Dee estuary.

With very rough seas at the entrance to the estuary, the yacht decided to head for Rhyl instead. The coastguard at Rhyl could see that the yacht, l'/2 miles to the east of the end channel marker, was making heavy weather of crossing the bar and asked a local fishing vessel, Striker, to go out to her assistance. When Striker reached the bar, however, her skipper radioed to the coastguard that it was too rough for him to cross it and escort the yacht.

At 1230 the coastguard contacted the honorary secretary of Rhyl lifeboat station and asked him to launch the lifeboat. Maroons were fired and at 1256 the relief 37ft Oakley class lifeboat /. G. Graves of Sheffield, on temporary duty at Rhyl, launched from her carriage and headed north by west to clear the heavy surf on the beach.

Her coxswain, Bruce Herbert, then steered west for l!/2 miles until the lifeboat was close to the yacht. The wind was still gale force 8 and seas very rough with heavy breaking surf in the approaches to Rhyl harbour. When he had ascertained by radio that theyacht had no drogue aboard, Coxswain Herbert decided it would be safer to escort her to Mostyn harbour, inside the Dee estuary.

There were two men on board the yacht and the coxswain asked if either of them wanted to be taken off or whether they needed one of his own crewmen to help them navigate. The yachtsmen radioed back that they would like an extra hand.

On the first run in the lifeboat was placed alongside the yacht's port quarter and Second Coxswain Donald Archer Jones jumped aboard. The two boats then headed for Mostyn harbour which they reached without further incident. The yacht was moored to the quay in a safe position and after her skipper had expressed his thanks to the lifeboat crew, the lifeboat set out for Rhyl. She was back at station at 1737 and by 1804 was rehoused and ready again for service.

Following this service a letter of appreciation, signed by Cdr Bruce Cairns, chief of operations, was sent to the coxswain and crew of Rhyl lifeboat..