Crossed Bar RETURNING at 1910 on June 6, 1987 from a machinery exercise, in command of the Portrush 52ft Arun class lifeboat Robert Evans (Civil Service No. 39), Second Coxswain/Mechanic Derek Chambers succeeded in crossing the bar at the mouth of the River Bann in the worst possible conditions to go to the assistance of a yacht in difficulty inside the river.

Fully aware of the conditions prevailing at the bar and with the total concurrence of his crew, Second Coxswain/ Mechanic Chambers ordered crew members to strap themselves into the seats in the wheelhouse while he and Crew Member William McAuley went to the lifeboat's upper conning position.

After three attempts, the lifeboat crossed the bar in conditions which were considered unnavigable for commercial shipping, to effect the rescue of a man and the saving of his yacht..