Capsize THE DAY OF TUESDAY AUGUST 26, 1986, dawned at Brighton with gale force winds blowing from the south south west, gusting to force 9 and skies overcast with a slight drizzle. Very heavy seas were running and waves up to 15 feet in height, confused and reflected in the area off Brighton Marina, were sending seas and heavy spray 20 feet into the air as they broke on the marina's eastern breakwater arm.

At 0830 on that morning one of Brighton lifeboat's crew members overheard the yacht Asterionella radioing to Solent Coastguard for landfall information.

She was inbound from France and making for Brighton Marina.

An hour later, as the crew member's concern began to grow for the yacht's safety as she neared the coast, he contacted the station's senior helmsman, Alan Young, who in turn alerted the honorary secretary and other crew members.

The yacht had not yet sent out a distress and was now in radio contact with the marina. One of the marina's staff was on the eastern arm watching for the yacht's approach. At 0937 he saw her fire red flares when she was some 150 yards from the breakwater. Within minutes she was overwhelmed. Her crew of three abandoned her and could be seen in the water with an inflating liferaft.

Their plight was radioed to the lifeboat crew room where Helmsman Alan Young, choosing two other experienced crew members to go with him, headed for the boathouse. Looking at the sea he reckoned that he had in the past taken the lifeboat through the marina's dangerous entrance in weather as bad and after a word with the honorary secretary, it was agreed to launch.

The relief rigid inflatable Atlantic 21 lifeboat, on temporary duty at the station was launched at 0947 with Alan Young at the helm and Roger Cohen and Stan Todd as crew. She made her way at one third speed through the marina entrance, her crew having already rigged a towing bridle in case they were unable to reach the liferaft.

Every sea had to be negotiated with care as course was set to windward; this was in order to make searoom away from the marina arm. Other lifeboatcrew members who had gathered now divided into two parties; the first made for the eastern arm with ropes and lifebuoys and the other set off for the top of the east cliff where a deputy launching authority, Colin Maltby, and three men could watch what was happening and report back to Solent Coastguard by portable VHP radio. Newhaven's 52ft Arun class lifeboat, Keith Anderson, also launched at 0953 and was expected to arrive on scene 40 minutes later.

As Brighton's Atlantic 21 headed for the Lowenbrau Buoy the men on the cliff top reported that one of the three yachtsmen had boarded the liferaft but that the other two were still in the water. At 0951 the lifeboat turned to port to head east north east towards the liferaft. Crew Member Cohen was keeping stern lookout for heavy seas and soon after altering course he reported a large composite sea approaching. Helmsman Young turned the lifeboat to port, head to sea, as waves broke over her. Heavy water came aboard aft and the starboard engine stalled. It was quickly restarted and the lifeboat circled northwards back towards the liferaft.

By now the raft was only 50 yards south of the breakwater where seas were very confused. But Alan Young, seeing two people still in the water, was committed to keep going slowly ahead at about six knots, his bow to the wind.

The lifeboat was just seven yards from the liferaft when a very heavy and steep sea rose up ahead, lifting the bow nearly vertical. At this moment the wind caught the underside of the hull and the lifeboat capsized bow over stern.

She landed absolutely level but upside down and Helmsman Young andCrew Member Todd found themselves under the boat. Cohen, however, was thrown clear and he managed to hold the port lifelines as his two crewmates emerged from beneath the hull on the starboard side. All three worked their way aft and while Young located the air bottle release for the righting bag, his crew held the port safety line.

The lifeboat righted quickly and remained stern to sea. Young and Cohen re-boarded aft and were assisting Todd when another breaking sea lifted the lifeboat and drove her some 25 yards before finally lifting her starboard quarter over her port bow. Young and Cohen were again thrown into the water but Todd held himself inside the roll bar and stayed inboard as the lifeboat quickly righted due to the inflated air-bag.

Cohen, who was now too far for Todd to reach him with the quoit line, accepted that he would drift ashore safely. Young managed to grab the trailing port safety line and was about to climb aboard when yet another sea lifted the stern and a second identical knock-down took place. This time Young lost contact with the lifeboat but could see that he, too, was being driven safely ashore. Again Todd kept a hold aboard the boat and while he drifted towards the beach, he rigged the emergency VHP radio. He then called Solent Coastguard to say that all the crew were safe and was about to try to start the port engine when he realised that the lifeboat was close to the shore.

Instead he lifted both engines into tilt position and at 1008 the lifeboat landed on the beach with members of the shoreparty in close attendance.

Within minutes of the lifeboat beaching the three survivors from the yacht and their liferaft were also washed ashore about 75 yards further east.

None of them were injured but they were taken to hospital for observation and were released later that day.

The lifeboat was manhandled ashore and then lifted by crane to the nearby marina boatyard. An emergency relief Atlantic 21 arrived at station from RNLI Cowes Base at 1430 and was placed on service at 1530. The station lifeboat was returned to Cowes for inspection on the same transport.

Following this service the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum was accorded to Helmsman Alan Young and Crew Members Roger Cohen and Stan Todd. Also, a letter signed by the RNLI's director, Rear Admiral W. J.

Graham, was sent to the honorary secretary thanking the entire station personnel for their assistance that day..