Windsurfer saved BRONZE MEDAL IN A SOUTHERLY GALE FORCE 8, gUSting tO severe gale force 9, a windsurfer was in trouble in the sea off Croyde. It was 1257 on Sunday December 1, 1985, when Hartland Coastguard alerted Appledore lifeboat station and immediately maroons were fired to assemble the crew.

Speed was essential as the windsurfer was in danger of being swept on to rocks and for this reason the deputy launching authority and coxswain decided immediately to launch the Atlantic 21 rigid inflatable lifeboat. Long Life I, on relief duty at Appledore. Manned by Helmsman John Pavitt and Crew Members Michael Weeks and Roy Tucker, the lifeboat headed out towards Appledorebar. Even inside the bar the sea was rough with a four foot swell; it was some five hours after high water and visibility was clear although the sky was overcast with occasional rain squalls.

Helmsman Pavitt waited for a few moments when he reached the bar to see if it was safe to cross. He watched the pattern of breaking surf and, deciding it was possible to take the lifeboat through, carefully chose his moment to manoeuvre the lifeboat skilfully clear of the bar. Beyond the bar the sea was very confused with the gale blowing across the tide and the helmsman adjusted his speed and course to cope with the wind.

The breaking waves began to reach 20 feet in height near the sailboard and the lifeboat found herself airborne for several seconds as she left the crest of each wave. The man could now be seen directly ahead; he was clinging to his board in confused seas about 600 yards to the south of Asp Rock. He was in imminent danger of being swept down on to the rock by wind and sea where he would have had no chance of survival.

Already a helicopter from RAF Chivenor which was at the scene had tried to winch the man to safety but he had refused help. Helmsman Pavitt knew that he would now have to run straight towards the windsurfer to pick him up. He steered the lifeboat before wind and sea until abeam of the sailboard.

Then, in a lull, he turned through 180 degrees to face the southerly wind and brought the lifeboat alongside. Immediately Crew Members Roy Tucker and Michael Weeks reached down and grabbed the man, hauling him aboard. The man was somehow tangled in his own harness which in turn was attached to the sailboard and when he was lifted out of the water, his board came with him. By this time the lifeboat was only some 400 yards from Asp Rock.

On examination the man appearedonly to be suffering from exhaustion but the helmsman asked for the helicopter to lift him off so that he would not be exposed to the danger of re-crossing the bar and also so that he could receive a proper medical examination without delay. However, the attempts to winch the man into the helicopter turned out to be too dangerous and had to be abandoned.

Appledore's 47ft Watson class lifeboat, Louisa Anne Hawker had by now also launched and was standing by just inside the bar ready to assist the Atlantic 21 when she returned across it. The waves were so high that all navigational marks were obscured from the view of the rigid inflatable's helmsman, his only leading mark being the mast of the larger lifeboat. With the helicopter following overhead, Helmsman Pavitt adjusted his speed to slow and, keeping the lifeboat on the back of an ongoing wave, successfully brought the lifeboat across the bar.

He then opened the throttles and sped back to the lifeboat slipway where the man and his sailboard were landed at 1411. The lifeboat functioned perfectly throughout and was undamaged apart from a foot strap which broke under the pressure exerted by one of the crew members.

Following this service, the bronze medal was awarded to Helmsman John Pavitt and bronze medal service certificates were presented to Crew Members Michael Weeks and Roy Tucker..