wu KI.OW, Thursday February 13, 1986: the 42ft Watson class lifeboat. J. W. Archer, setting out at 132S on service in a gale force 8 to 9 south-easterly, to go to the aid of a catamaran some 20 miles to the south east of the station. The catamaran, Chataway, was on passage from Falmouth to the Clyde, and had been at sea for 48 hours in severe weather; her self steering could no longer cope and her crew of four were tired and cold in the near freezing temperatures. She was unable to make any port on the west coast of England or Wales for shelter and as her skipper was unfamiliar with the Irish coast, she was in need of an Irish lifeboat as escort. Clear of Wicklow Head the lifeboat met 20 foot breaking seas in winds gusting to storm force 10. Chataway carried a Decca Navigator and was able to report her position with accuracy and an hour and a half after launching, the lifeboat located the catamaran sailing towards them. She was on a course which would have taken her over Arklow Bank where seas were breaking violently and the lifeboat therefore asked her to alter course and began to escort her towards Wicklow. The two vessels reached harbour at 1800 and the four yachtsmen were taken to hospital and later released after a check-up..