Triple call-out NOVEMBER 1, 1986 proved to be a cold day, with a partly overcast sky and anorth-westerly wind, force 5 to 6 blowing along the Essex coast.

At 1107 Thames coastguard alerted the deputy launching authority of Clacton lifeboat station to a MAYDAY call from the 35ft yacht Brita, reported to be on fire, with its engines disabled, close to the Swin Spitway Buoy.

Clacton's Atlantic 21 rigid inflatable lifeboat launched from its slipway trolley at 1115 and headed at full speed towards the casualty.

Despite the cold weather, Helmsman Lee Bolingbroke and crew members Terence Bolingbroke and Andrew Walsh did not wait to dress in thermal undersuits, in the belief that if the Brita was on fire, speed was essential.

The casualty was located at 1139 and the lifeboat manoeuvred alongside to allow Terence Bolingbroke to jump aboard. He found the three crew of the Brita cold and exhausted, but uninjured.

The engine was out of action and the yacht was dragging its anchor, but the suspected fire proved to be the smell of submerged electronics.

The lifeboat stood by the casualty until the arrival of the Essex police launch Alert 3 at 1154. Terence Bolingbroke assisted with rigging a towline aboard the Brita and in recovering the anchor, as the crew were inexperienced.

Alert 3 then took the yacht in tow and Terence Bolingbroke reboarded the lifeboat.

At 1224, on its way back to Clacton lifeboat station, the Atlantic 21 crew were informed by Thames Coastguard that a red flare had been seen near the North Eagle Buoy.

The lifeboat arrived at the buoy at 1231 to find a 16ft Shetland type motor boat with one person on board, drifting with the ebb tide. Again Terence Bolingbroke was put aboard. He found that the boat's engine had failed and the male survivor was suffering from seasickness and concerned about his situation.

Crew Member Bolingbroke placed him in a safe position and secured a towline prepared by Crew Member Walsh before the lifeboat towed the casualty to Brightlingsea, arriving at 1337.

Ten minutes later as the Atlantic 21 was on passage back to her station a message was received from Thames coastguard of a third MAYDAY call, this time from the angling boat Ondermining, reported to be aground off Foulness with an engine room fire and nine people on board. Using his extensive local knowledge, Helmsman Bolingbroke took the quickest line of approach and arrived on scene at 1409.

The casualty was found to be well aground south of the Outer Crouch Buoy on Foulness Sands. Helmsman Bolingbroke nosed the lifeboat to the sand edge to land Crew Member Bolingbroke to investigate whether or not any of those on board the Ondermining were injured.

This manoeuvre involved the lifeboatbeing stern to the north-westerly seas and twice she was swamped by seas breaking through her transom. Realising the danger of flooding the air intakes, Helmsman Bolingbroke instructed his namesake to reboard and Clacton lifeboat then stood off near to the buoy to assess the situation.

With only four gallons of fuel remaining, it was decided to refuel at Burnham-on-Crouch, where the crew were also given hot drinks—the station honorary secretary noting how all three crew members were shaking with cold.

At 1543 Clacton lifeboat returned to the Ondermining but was released by Thames coastguard from the incident and returned to station at 1650. The lifeboat was refuelled, rehoused and ready for service by 1705.

The Ondermining reported that the "fire" was in fact steam. With the craft in no immediate danger, therefore, the MAYDAY was cancelled. Six of the crew were taken off by RAF helicopter, while the remaining three were later escorted to safety on foot by a shore party.

Following this service, a letter of appreciation signed by Lt Cdr Brian Miles, deputy director and chief of operations, was sent to the honorary secretary of Clacton station thanking Helmsman Lee Bolingbroke and Crew Members Terence Bolingbroke and Andrew Walsh for their determination, stamina and thoroughly professional conduct throughout the three incidents..