Cargo vessel alert AT 0450 ON FRIDAY. October 16, 1987— the day Britain was hit by the worst storms for 200 years—the coaster Union Mars reported to coastguards that she had suffered steering failure three miles south south east of St Catherine's Point.

Isle of Wight.

Although the vessel had not sought assistance it was feared that she could be driven ashore in the prevailing southsouth- easterly storm force 10 winds. As a result the station honorary secretary at Yarmouth, was asked by the coastguard to have the lifeboat crew called to a state of immediate readiness.

Bembridge lifeboat was also standing by to launch and the coastguard rescue teams, too. were on alert.

After further discussion between the station honorary secretary, the operations staff at Poole RNLI headquarters and Coxswain David Rennet!, it was agreed to take the Yarmouthlifeboat a 52ft Arun class. Jov and John Wade, around the north of the island to Bembridge to await further developments.

The crew were contacted and told to report to the boathouse. This proved to be no easy task for them, as many roads leading to Yarmouth were blocked by fallen trees, brought down in the storm.

However, this did not deter them and by 0620 all had mustered.

The lifeboat left her moorings at 0623, proceeding east and. despite the worst conditions in the Solent in the experience of Coxswain Rennet!. arrived off Bembridge at 0745, where she moored off the lifeboat slipway.

•Meanwhile, the Union Marx had repaired her steering and by 0855 had fought her way to six-and-a-half miles south of St Catherine's Point and was turning towards the Nab.

By 1147 she had gained the lee of the island and was deemed to be out of danger. The lifeboat was therefore released to return to her station.

She returned at 1345. having picked up a stranded dory off the beach at Cranmore en route. This boat it was established immediately had broken away from her moorings off Bouldnor during the night and no-one was missing.

Following this service a letter of thanks, commending the Yarmouth crew members' determination and devotion to duty was sent by Lt Cdr Brian Miles, then the RNLI's deputy director/ chief of operations, to the station honorary secretary..