Coaster aground LATE ON THE NIGHT OF Saturday November 9, 1985, the Dutch coaster, Anne, radioed that she was dragging her anchor and getting close to Long Scar rocks near Hartlepool. There was a north-north-easterly strong gale force 9, gusting to violent storm force 11 and the lifeboat crew were immediately mustered.

By 0010 on November 10 the Anne was aground on the rocks and five minutes later Hartlepool's 44ft Waveney class lifeboat. The Scout, had slipped her moorings and was heading out to sea with Coxswain Robert Maiden at the helm.

It was overcast with heavy rain squalls, moderate visibility and continuous spray as the lifeboat left the harbour at full speed. Clear of the breakwater the full force of the very high breaking seas forced the coxswain to reduce speed as he headed towards the coaster's position, a mile to the south south east.

On arrival at 0030 the lifeboat put up a parachute illuminating flare which showed the Anne lying head north, hard aground on the south part of Long Scar rocks with heavy seas breaking across her decks. The north-easterly wind was still gusting to force 11, and heavy breaking 20ft seas were driving on to the rocks. It was 15 minutes before high water and there was therefore little or no tide in this position.

The coaster was in contact with Tees Harbour Radio and was waiting for tug assistance. Coxswain Maiden decided to stand by and positioned the lifeboat in Knock Hole, a deep to the south of the rocks where she was able to lie in comparative safety just 60 feet astern of the coaster.Some 20 minutes later the tugs were forced to turn back by the weather and a Sea King helicopter was scrambled from RAF Boulmer. At 0140 the helicopter arrived and the lifeboat illuminated the coaster's position with another parachute flare. The helicopter hovered for some time over the coaster and then moved off to a position astern of the lifeboat.

After a further ten minutes five men emerged from the coaster's accommodation at the stern and waved the lifeboat in. In the lee of the rocks the waves were moderated to 10 to 15 feet and the coxswain ran the lifeboat straight in towards the coaster's port after side, just forward of her accommodation, and positioned his starboard shoulder alongside.

The men threw their baggage aboard the lifeboat but then a heavy sea broke round and over the coaster, throwing the lifeboat's bow away and driving her astern and through 360 degrees. Coxswain Maiden now tried to go up on the coaster's starboard side but the seas were too heavy and dangerous and the lifeboat cleared astern and ran up the port side again.

This time two men were taken off just before another large sea swept the lifeboat's bow off and pushed her starboard quarter on to the coaster's coffin stern. The collision cut a small hole in the lifeboat's after cabin housing and bent some of the starboard stanchions.

The coxswain made another run in to the same position and two more crew members were taken off, the second of them, being slow to jump, was dragged aboard by the lifeboat crewmen on deck. Once more the lifeboat clearedastern with the four seamen aboard and took up station again in Knock Hole deep, standing by as the captain of the Anne had decided to stay on board.

After half an hour, by which time the tide had begun to fall, the coaster's captain was out of immediate danger and the lifeboat headed back to Hartlepool where the men were landed at 0306. The lifeboat crew then remained on stand-by until 0730.

Following this service the bronze medal was awarded to Coxswain Robert Maiden. Bronze medal service certificates were awarded to Second Coxswain/Mechanic David Wilson, Assistant Mechanic Oswald Rennie and Crew Members Eric Reeve, Edward Porritt and Ian Vincent..