MKDAUJS IS SHOVVKI) 'BRAVKRV AM) KXPKKTISK Sailor rescued as yacht is driven on to lee shore The coxswain and helmsman of Whitby's two lifeboats, the 44ft Waveney White Rose of Yorkshire and the D class inflatable Gwynaeth, have both been awarded bronze medals for gallantry for their part in the service to the yacht Cymba on 9 April 1988.

Coxswain Peter Thomson showed 'excellent seamanship and calculated bravery' in his decision to take the Waveney into heavy breaking surf and saving 'what otherwise would have been a doomed survivor', and helmsman Nicholas Botham Whitby East Division Bronze Medals showed 'skill and expertise' in taking his inflatable into conditions 'which could be considered to be above the normal operating limits' of the boat, according to the official report by the Divisional Inspector.

A 999 call to Humber Coastguard at 0832 on Saturday 9 April first alerted them to a 'capsized yacht' off Whitby Harbour, and because of the urgency of the situation the coastguard immediately paged the crew of the D class inflatable.

The deputy launching authority at Whitby heard the call on his pager and called the coastguard, agreeing to the launch, and asking for the Waveney crew to be paged because of the conditions.

The D class launched at 0840 and the Waveney's crew were paged two minutes later, the boat proceeding on service at 0845.

The northerly Force 5 wind was causing heavy breaking seas at the harbour mouth and the inflatable had to be driven through them before heading west, towards the position given by the first 999 call.

The coastguard sector officer ashore could see the casualty, and informed the crew by VHP that the yacht was actually to the east, towards Whitby rocks.

Breaking Soon after altering course towards her the crew were able to see the yacht being driven towards the shore by a heavy northerly swell, which was breaking heavily on the shallowing water of the Whitby rocks.

The inflatable entered the broken water and the crew saw a figure in the water on the port side. Helmsman Nicholas Botham had to wait for an opportunity to turn, butafter a large breaker had passed the lifeboat was able to run back down and turn head to sea for an approach. The man was brought aboard with great difficulty at 0849, but was found to be dead.

The Waveney was closer inshore dealing with the yacht, and as the seas there were beyond the capability of the D class the helmsman decided to return to the harbour.

After waiting for a smooth patch of sea to enter the harbour the inflatable was rehoused and ready for service by 0940.

The Waveney White Rose of Yorkshire had also encountered heavy seas leaving the harbour and had set her course towards the inflatable as soon as she was clear.

Once clear of the breakwaters the yacht had been sighted closer inshore, upright, dismasted and beam-on to the seas. She was being driven towards the shore with a survivor visible in the water astern of her and apparently attached to the yacht.

Coxswain Thomson realised that he had only moments to try a rescue, and made a direct approach. About 30 yards off the lifeboat was hit by two large seas from astern, and he realised that he would have to go in stern-first to retain control.

Working astern with the engines, occasionally going ahead to stem large seas, the coxswain brought the lifeboat down to the casualty but found the yacht's rigging obstructing the approach, and had to move the lifeboat away.

A second approach was made, but as the lifeboat closed the yacht a large sea threatened to lift her on to the casualty, and once again the coxswain had to drive the boat ahead into clear water.

Survivor Finally, on the third approach, the lifeboat dropped down astern near to the survivor, who managed to catch a line thrown to him. He was dragged aboard the lifeboat at 0902, and had to remain in the well for a time as the cabin door could not be opened safely until the lifeboat had been driven clear of the worst seas.

White Rose of Yorkshire took the survivor back to Whitby at 0904, and put to sea again to escort fishing boats to harbour.

As a result of the service Coxswain/Mechanic Peter Thomson and Helmsman Nicholas Botham have been awarded the RNLI's bronze medal, and the members of both lifeboat's crews, Peter Sellars, Glenn Goodberry, Barry Sneddon, Howard Fields, Robert Brooks and Andrew Jordan, have been awarded Medal Service Certificates.Amphibious rescue Eastbourne - South East Division The Director of the RNLI has sent a letter of appreciation to two Eastbourne brothers after an unusual shore-boat service in which their amphibious vehicle helped a fishing boat, while Eastbourne's D class inflatable lifeboat stood by.

At about 1540 on 12 April 1988 the fishing boat Searcher reported by radio that she was anchored offshore at Eastbourne with gearbox trouble, and was dragging her anchor in a NE by E Force 6 wind. She was about a quarter of a mile beyond the 6ft surf breaking on the beach and the two crew asked the local boatyard for assistance - Eastbourne's Rother class lifeboat being unable to launch at low water.

Heavily laden Brothers Brian and Colin Allchorn agreed to launch their amphibious DUKW, despite being heavily laden with 130 fathoms of chain for the Rother's low water launching gear, provided the D class stood by.

The DUKW launched successfully and made fast alongside Searcher. Although the DUKW was shipping water in the heavy seas the Allchorn brothers were able to buoy the fishing boat's anchor and return the boat to the beach through the surf at 1608.

Brian and Colin Allchom subsequently wrote to the helmsman of the D class thanking the crew for standing by during the rescue.

The Director's letter thanked the brothers for carrying out the operation in a 'professional and seamanlike manner' and expressed gratitude for their continuing help to the RNLI in such matters as the laying of the hauling-off gear.SAILORS WASHED OVERBOARD BY Hl'(JE SEAS Yacht sailed to safety by Atlantic 21 crew member Lymington - South East DivisionLymington's Atlantic 21 lifeboat Frank and Mary Atkinson had to put a crew member aboard a yacht off the Shingles Bank during the strong winds of the late spring bank holiday after three of the yacht's crew had been rescued by helicopter.Division The Atlantic's crew were on stand-by, and launched at 1713 on Sunday 29 May to go to the assistance of the only crew left on board the yacht. The 28-footer had been on passage from Poole to Chichester when three of her crew were swept overboard near the SW Shingles buoy in SW winds of Force 7 to 8 and huge seas. Conditions on the bank, which flanks the approaches to the Solent, were described by Helmsman Coster as 'very rough'.

Sea sickness When they reached the scene, accompanied by the helicopter which had rescued the other three survivors, the lifeboat crew found the sole remaining sailor suffering from shock and sea sickness, and decided to put someone aboard the yacht to sail her to safety.

Lifeboat crew member Mike Crowe was put aboard in very dangerous conditions, and found that the yacht's auxiliary could not be used because the propeller was fouled. He therefore decided to sail her to Yarmouth, escorted by the lifeboat.

Single handed The casualty was to the north of the Shingles, and, almost single-handed in gale force winds, Mike Crowe sailed her clear of the bank, then downwind to the North Channel, along the shingle beach of Hurst Point and through the entrance into the Solent. Once in more sheltered water the lifeboat took over and towed the yacht to Yarmouth.

Having delivered the yacht and the remaining survivor to the shelter of the Isle of Wight port the lifeboat returned to her station on the mainland and was back on station at 1915.Seal of approval Mumbles South West Division Mumbles lifeboatmen took part in an unusual rescue in July when they saved a seal from an early grave by freeing it from a fishing net.

The old seal, which is well known in the area and sometimes has to be shooed off the lifeboat slip before a launch, was spotted in distress by coxswain Alan Jones from the window of his home.

The seal's claws had become tangled in a net near the lifeboat station, but the coxswain and a few of the crew put out in the D class inflatable and their prompt action in cutting it free saved it from almost certain death.

Station Honorary Secretary Captain Roy Griffiths said 'He's quite a character down here, and the crew wanted to do what they could to help'.Six saved from power boat LymeRegis South West Division The Lyme Regis Atlantic 21 Independent Forester Benevolence rescued six people on 22 May 1988 in a short but difficult service when a small power boat lost engine power and was being driven ashore by strong onshore winds.

Portland Coastguard requested the launch at 1500 on hearing of the casualty, which was just over half-a-mile to the west of the harbour.

The maroons were fired, and at 1510 the Atlantic left the station in a southerly Force 6 to 7 wind for the seven-minute passage to the power boat Diamond Dove, which by then was in quite heavy seas and in danger of being driven aground on a lee shore of rocky ledges.

Because of the shallow water the lifeboat had to put Crew Member James Thomas in the water to reach the casualty, and then stand off ready to float down a tow line.

Five of the crew were helped ashore through the surf, and one stayed aboard to help Crew Member Thomas with the boat.

A line was floated down and secured and the lifeboat towed the power boat back to the shelter of Lyme Regis Harbour.TWO BOATS AT SEA FOR A TOTAL OF 13 HOURS Escort for listing cargo boat in 70 knot winds Sennen Cove and Clovelly - South West Division Sennen Cove's relief Rother The Davys Family was launched in winds gusting up to 71 knots on 25 March 1988 when the 300-ton Cyprus-registered cargo vessel Retriever was reported to have a 20 degree list in a position four miles to the east of the Seven Stones Lightvessel. Clovelly's relief 70ft Clyde Charles H. Barren was also later involved in the service.Seven-hour service to cargo vessel in storm conditions Giving help to the 400-ton cargo vessel Calf Sound kept Eyemouth's 44ft Waveney busy for some seven hours in winds of up to Force 10 on 25 March 1988. The vessel was anchored about two miles north of Eyemouth with engine failure when help was first requested at 0940.

Engineering assistance was needed, and with the NW wind at that time at Force 8 and moderate to rough seas it was felt that the local fishing boats would not be able to cope with the conditions.

The Waveney Eric Seal was launched at 0950 with Second Coxswain/Mechanic James Tarvit in charge, and by 1015 she had closed the casualty and landed an engineer.

The cargo boat could not be manoeuvred to provide a lee and a 15ft sea and 6-8ft swell were running.

The problem was diagnosed, and a spare part and the services of a second engineer were found to be needed. The lifeboat returned to the shore for the part and the engineer, and then put them aboard the Calf Sound, before lying in the bay or harbour out of the worst of the weather.

By mid-day it was discovered the parts were unsuitable, and so, with the weather deteriorating all the time, the lifeboat had Eyemouth -Scotland South Division to go alongside the cargo boat once more, pick up the engineers and put them ashore.

At 1405 she returned once again to the vessel with the modified part and lay off out of the weather. The repairs to the ship were finally completed, and she was able to sail at 1530 and continue her passage to Blyth.

With the vessel under way she was at last able to provide a lee when the engineers were finally taken off at 1545, but the weather had now deteriorated still further and the wind had reached Force 10 during the service.

During the long service coxswain Tarvit had taken the lifeboat alongside the cargo vessel four times in very bad weather, only once with any sort of lee provided.

Launching at 0505 from Sennen The Davys Family reached the casualty just over an hour later, with the wind Force 10 from the west and seas about 20ft high.

The Dutch cargo vessel Eendracht had also responded to the distress call and was standing by when the lifeboat arrived.

In view of the weather and Retriever s predicament, found to be caused by a leak, it was decided that a northerly course would be prudent. The lifeboat began to escort the listing vessel in this direction in the very heavy weather, and released her at 0815 in a safe position nine miles north of Godrevy Lighthouse.

Shelter Eendracht had also been released and the casualty was able to proceed on her own, so The Davys Family made for the shelter of St Ives Bay to await better rehousing conditions at Sennen. She was finally re-housed at 1400 after nearly nine hours at sea.

Retriever and her six crew were met by Clovelly's relief Clyde at 1520, when she was some six miles west of Hartland Point, and escorted to the safety of an anchorage in Lundy Roads. The wind was still near-gale, with a very rough sea and 10ft swell, but had veered to west by north. Charles H. Barratt was released at 1700 and returned to her mooring at 1800, after four hours at sea.Arun tows yacht for 34 miles against NE gale Newhaven's Arun class Keith Anderson was involved in a long and arduous service on 4 April 1988 when she was at sea for nearly six-and-a-half hours in a NE gale, picking up her casualty and four survivors some 34 miles from the station.

The service was initiated at 0845 by Solent Coastguard, who asked for the lifeboat to be launched to take over the tow of the yacht Aubric which had problems with her sails and engine. The survey vessel Challenger had the yacht in tow on a bearing of 215 degrees from the station, almost directly down wind.

South EdSt Division Keith Anderson left her moorings at 0852 and proceeded at full speed to the position given, aided by the NE gale from astem.

On arrival at 1030 the lifeboat was asked by Challenger to take off two of the yacht's crew, who had been taken aboard the survey vessel. An 8ft swell was running, with a very rough sea and a NE Force 8 wind.

The transfer of the crew was difficult in view of the severe conditions, but Coxswain Beach managed it skilfully, without damage apart from the loss of two rope fenders.

The two crew who had been left aboard the yacht were very tired and had difficulty in casting off Challenger's tow and picking up the lifeboat's line, but when this had been achieved they were also taken aboard the Arun for the long tow back to Brighton, their home port, which began at 1058.

Punching slowly into the wind and sea with the tow it was not until 1419, nearly three-and-a-half hours later, that the lifeboat reached Brighton.

By 1445 they were ready to leave for the 25-minute run back to Newhaven, where Keith Anderson was refuelled and ready for service again by 1550.Tow line passed in SW gale Hastings - South East Division On Thursday, 24 March 1988 the Station Honorary Secretary at Hastings, John Heyes, heard on VHP channel 6 that the fishing vessel My Lass of Rye had broken her propeller shaft two miles south of the station.

Visibility was poor, and a strong WNW wind was already kicking up a moderate sea. With SSW gales of Force 8 to 9 imminent and conditions worsening it was decided to launch the 37ft Oakley Fairlight to recover the fishing boat.

The lifeboat was launched from her carriage at 1047, and by the time she had arrived at the casualty at 1105 the gales had arrived, with the wind having backed SW between Force 6 and 8.

My Lass was among fleets of fixed nets and in heavy seas which demanded the closest teamwork and co-operation from the crew of the lifeboat.

Difficulties Despite the difficulties Coxswain Fred White was able to pass and secure a tow without damage, and the crew of three remained on the fishing boat as she was towed back to Hastings.

The casualty was finally beached through the surf with the aid of the station's launching tractor, and the lifeboat was then recovered, rehoused and ready for service by 1152.Offshore wind keeps inflatable busy Southend-on-Sea South East Division Strong offshore winds kept Southend-on- Sea's D class inflatable busy on 4 April 1988 when it was called out twice in the late afternoon for windsurfers and a stranded speedboat with five people aboard - which had requested help on a portable cellular telephone! The first call came from the coastguard at 1540. Their mobile unit had been called to a previous incident involving a windsurfer, who had eventually made his own way ashore at Chalkwell. But the mobile unit stayed to observe, and some minutes later saw another windsurfer trying to paddle ashore and unable to make ground against the Force 6 wind from the NE.

The D class was called from her station at the pierhead, located the casualty within five minutes of the alert and delivered him safely to the coastguard mobile unit on the beach.

Hazards The coastguard discovered that the first windsurfer had already been rescued once before that day, by Southend council's launch, and so the Sector Officer 'explained the hazards of strong offshore winds' to both men.

The D class was back on station by 1730, and did not have to wait long for the next call. At 1845 the coastguard reported they had received a telephone call from a 17ft speedboat. The boat was aground 'on the Ray Sand' about 40ft from the channel, but the five people aboard did not know their exact position.

In view of the long wait before the boat would refloat and the deteriorating weather conditions it was decided to launch the D class again, and at 1904 she set out to search for the casualty.

Just under 10 minutes later the speedboat was discovered - hard aground near Bernbridge, which is some distance from the Ray Sand.

The five occupants had lifejackets and warm clothing, but no flares, and the NE wind had freshened to Force 7.

The lifeboat was with the casualty for nearly an hour before the speedboat was safely anchored, and all of the crew taken off. They were landed at the Coastguard's mobile unit at nearby Two Tree Island and the inflatable returned to her station at Southend pierhead at 2020.'Dismasted5 yacht found sailing after long search Crew member Alan Channell of the Poole lifeboat Inner Wheel has been sent a letter of thanks signed by the Chief of Operations following a service in which he was put aboard a yacht off Hengistbury Head in difficult conditions.

The 33ft Brede had been at sea for some time on 2 June 1988 trying to locate the casualty, after inaccurate reports of both the nature of her trouble and her position.

First news of the casualty came during a crew meeting, when a message was received from Portland Coastguard that a yacht had been reported by another yacht 'dismasted, making for Poole and in no need of assistance' four miles south of Hengistbury Head.

Assistance It was decided that in view of the southwesterly Force 5 to 6 and the sea state the yacht would be in need of assistance, whether she realised it or not. So at 2030 the lifeboat launched, taking extra hands in view of the probability of putting crew aboard the yacht.

When she arrived at the reported position nothing could be seen, but a subsequent message then gave the position as on a bearing 141 degrees from the Head - some 40 degrees east of the original bearing.

The lifeboat moved to the east, but could still see nothing untoward. Reasoning that if the casualty was heading for Poole she would be inshore the crew began to search closer to the headland, and spotted a yacht at 2135 as the light began to fade.

Sailing At first she appeared to be in no need of assistance, but it was decided to close with her, as another message had said that the 'dismasted' yacht was in fact sailing under main and jib.

Poole South East Division The yacht turned out to be the 88-yearold, 44ft Greyling, which had lost the top few feet of her mast, jamming the sails aloft. She had been in difficulties since 1400 in mid Channel, and carried neither radio nor flares.

It was necessary to get the sails off her before she could be towed, but the four crew on board were unable to follow the coxswain's suggestion to remove the sail from the boom and brail it to the mast.

Coxswain Frank Ide decided to put someone aboard the yacht, despite the rough sea state and the pitching and rolling of both vessels, and so the Brede was brought in to the casualty.

The boats did not touch and crew member Alan Channell jumped aboard at the first attempt.

Smothered Crew member Channell is an experienced sailor and soon had the canvas smothered. A tow line was passed at the first attempt, and with grass fenders in the bight to act as a spring the lifeboat began to tow Greyling to Poole, slowly at first due to the sea state, but increasing speed slightly as she came into the lee of the land and the seas decreased.

The yacht was berthed at the town quay at 0030 and the lifeboat was back on her mooring at 0130.Exercise turns into busy day for City of Plymouth Plymouth - South West Division Plymouth's new Arun class City of Plymouth took part in no less than seven rescues on Sunday, 22 May 1988, when a sudden increase in wind strength to around Force 7 from the SE caught a large number of small boat owners unprepared.

City of Plymouth had left her berth in Sutton Harbour, Plymouth at 1030 for a special medical exercise with a total of ten crew members aboard, but just ten minutes later Brixham Coastguard contacted Coxswain John Dare with the first of the day's casualties.

Rocks A yacht was in trouble SW of the bridge in Plymouth Sound. She had been driven on to rocks by the SE wind, and when the lifeboat arrived the crew were ashore and making their way back to Plymouth by ferry. The Arun towed the yacht clear and took her to Stonehouse Pool, making fast at 1135.

Almost immediately Port Control reported a catamaran in need of assistance to the east of Drakes Island. When the lifeboat arrived she found the cat on the rocks with the fishing vessel Metan attempting to tow it clear. The coxswain was able to offer some advice, and the fishing vessel finally pulled the yacht free and began towing her towards Sutton Harbour, escorted by the lifeboat.

She was barely clear of Drakes Island when Brixham Coastguard called once more. This time a dinghy was in trouble off the entrance to the River Yealm, just outside the harbour. The crew of the lifeboat were still recovering the Y boat, but set off as soon as possible, only to to have the dinghy reported safe five minutes later.

Returning to Metan and her tow they escorted them to Queen Anne's Battery. As the lifeboat was now near Sutton Harbour the coxswain decided to put the Honorary Medical Adviser ashore, but as he was disembarking Brixham Coastguard called...

This time the Arun was asked to remain on call to monitor the activity in Plymouth Sound, which the coxswain decided could best be achieved from a position just to the east of Drakes Island.

The lifeboat took up station here at 1215, and did not have long to wait until she received the next call.At 1300 a diving boat called. It had an inflatable in tow, and by 1320 the lifeboat had taken over and gathered up the seven divers belonging to the boat, intending to return them to Fort Bovisand.

But then Brixham Coastguard called...

Now the casualty was a small motor boat, drifting on to the rocks off West Hoe.

With'the inflatable still in tow City of Plymouth set off, arriving at 1345 to find one speedboat, four people and a windsurfer on the rocks near the Hoe. After a confused conversation with the people ashore three of them boarded the boat and secured a line to the stern. The boat came off the rocks, but overturned in the process, and the people scrambled back ashore.

The Arun towed the speedboat back to Queen Anne's Battery, before going on to deliver the divers and their boat to Fort Bovisand at 1512.

But then Brixham Coastguard called...

Catamaran At 1531 a catamaran was reported in trouble off the River Yealm and the coastguard asked the lifeboat to assist. The Arun began to head for the Yealm, and Brixham Coastguard called...

A canoe had been reported missing, but one of the lifeboat crew had seen it off Mountbatten Pier and so the lifeboat was able to proceed to the catamaran off the Yealm.

When she arrived the cat was already being towed by a fishing vessel, so the lifeboat turned for home again and sailed back to Sutton harbour. By this time most of the small boats in the Sound were back on their moorings and City of Plymouth was finally released by Brixham Coastguard. She was moored and made ready for service again by 1715.

In all, seven incidents involving 23 people were investigated, and assistance given in varying degrees during the sevenand- a-half hours the lifeboat was out on service.Ferry fire puts all emergency services on alert at Harwich Harwich, Walton andFrinton and Aldeburgh East and South East Divisions Four lifeboats, three helicopters, three tugs and a harbour launch were despatched to the passenger and cargo ferry Nordic Ferry on 24 March 1988 when a fire in the engine room immobilised her a mile SW of the South Bawdsey Light Buoy.

The 18,700-ton vessel was en route from Zeebrugge to Felixstowe, with 348 passengers and crew on board, when Harwich Harbour Operations were first informed of her predicament at 0605. No assistance was asked for at the time as the fire was believed to be out.

At 0710, with the vessel now anchored, the master reported the bulkheads were still hot, and asked for the fire services to attend. A fire tug and patrol launch were sent to the casualty, and because of the possibility of a large scale evacuation from the ferry the emergency plan 'Harwichcap' was activated, with all emergency services alerted.

At 0738 Harwich's Atlantic 21 and 44ft Waveney John Fison were launched, followed by Walton and Frinton's 48ft 6in Solent City of Birmingham at 0741 and Aldeburgh's 37ft Rother James Cable at 0805.

The lifeboats closed the casualty in a SW gale, which was veering W, and having received confirmation that the fire was out, stood by while the electrical system and engine were tested.

Withdraw At about 1000 the master of the Nordic Ferry asked for the lifeboats to withdraw to Harwich Harbour and to stand by there, as their presence was apparently causing anxiety among the passengers.

By 1022 the ferry was under tow to Felixstowe by tug - berthing safely at midday, when the four lifeboats were released.

The last lifeboat did not reach her home station until 1530, by which time some 130 lifeboat crew man-hours had been spent at sea.LAUNCHING TRACTOR USED IN RESCUE Humane Society awards for crew members Hunstanton - East Division Two members of Hunstanton's lifeboat crew have received Royal Humane Society awards for rescuing a windsurfer - with the station's launching tractor.

The incident took place on 29 December 1987, and the awards were announced this August.

The first report of a windsurfer in trouble off Old Hunstanton came at 1230, but the message from Great Yarmouth Coastguard was that the casualty was making his own way ashore.

The station's tractor driver, John Connors, saw a white flare fired by Hunstanton's Coastguard mobile and went to the boathouse followed by Victor Dade, who had heard the incident on his scanner, and Alan Clarke.

Rocket The Coastguard had fired a rocket line, but it had fallen short and the windsurfer was unable to reach it. His head was just visible about 80 yards off the beach in the 3ft to 4ft seas kicked up by a SSW Force 5 wind, with the NNE-running ebb beginning.

The wind and tide were taking the casualty out to sea, and it was now obvious that he would not be able to get ashore unaided, so it was decided the quickest way to provide help was to unhitch the Atlantic 21 and use the tractor to get as close as possible to the casualty.

With John Connors driving, and Victor Dade and Alan Clarke in dry-suits riding on it, the tractor was driven into the water until the wheels were covered, and the two men set off to swim out to the windsurfer.

Cramp Victor Dade could not make it all the way, but Alan Clarke was able to swim out to the casualty and begin to tow him ashore. Although suffering from cramp in both legs and a bleeding nose he would not release his hold on his board, and so Alan Clarke had to tow that ashore with him. Victor Dade helped the two through the surf and the casualty was taken to the boathouse.

The Royal Humane Society has awarded Alan Clarke its Testimonial on Vellum and Victor Dade its Certificate of Commendation for their rescue.Tug aground on Gaa SandsBroughty Ferry's Arun class Spirit of Tayside was called out to stand by the Granton-based tug Defiant aground on the Gaa Sands on 13 May 1988. Although the wind was only Force 4 from the SE a 6ft to 8ft swell was running, and was breaking over the tug.

Forth Coastguard first alerted the lifeboat at 0740, and Spirit of Tayside launched ten minutes later for the fiveand after putting them aboard the lifeboat the helicopter took the distressed sailor ashore for treatment.

The lifeboat stood by Defiant until she Broughty Ferry Scotland North Division mile passage to the Gaa Sands.

When she arrived at 0810 the crew found one of the tug's crew in a very distressed state, and as they could not approach the tug helicopter assistance was requested.

The master and mechanic also asked to be taken off when the helicopter arrived, refloated. By 1025 the two crew had been put back aboard the tug, and Spirit of Tayside was back on station by 1040.be taken off when the helicopter arrived, Tayside was back on station by 1040.

Small boats in trouble Tenby - West Division Tenby's D class inflatable Charlie B was called to three small-boat casualties in two days during the late spring bank holiday when strong westerly winds reached Force 8. Two calls on one day were to small powered craft with machinery failure and another, two days later, was for the same reason.

The first call came after the station's honorary secretary spotted a flare at 1121 on Sunday 29 May, a mile ENE of the station.

Launching at 1123 the inflatable reached the casualty five minutes later to find that both the main and auxiliary engines of the 17ft Red Peg had failed, leaving the vessel helpless in the offshore Force 5 to 6 wind from the W and choppy seas with a 2ft to 3ft swell.

The lifeboat took the boat and her two crew in tow and put them ashore at Tenby before returning to her station and rehousing at 1200.

That same evening the Coastguard saw another flare, this time three miles to the north of the station, and the inflatable was called again at 1915. The wind had freshened to Force 7 to 8 by this time.

By the time the lifeboat had reached the casualty, another small powered boat with machinery failure, they found a small pleasure boat already towing the disabled vessel towards Saundersfoot and escorted them into the harbour. The inflatable landed the casualty and its sole crew member at Saundersfoot before returning to station at 1955.

The next day, Monday 30 May, the D class was also called out in the evening, this time at 1650 when the coastguard reported three people in trouble in a dinghy off Wisemansbridge.

The lifeboat set off for the reported casualty, but when just over 3 miles to the north of the station spotted another sailing dinghy, capsized and with one person in the water. The wind was Force 8 from the W, visibility was poor with a choppy sea.

A small boat had already picked up a second crew member, whom the lifeboat asked them to take ashore. The person was taken from the water, the dinghy righted and towed to Saundersfoot where the survivor was landed.

The original casualty had made its way ashore unaided, and so the inflatable returned to Tenby and rehoused at 1745.

Two days later, at 1400 on Wednesday 1 June, the D class was again called to a small boat with engine failure. The wind had moderated to Force 4 to 5, still from the W, and after a short search the lifeboat found an 18ft dory with one person aboard on the rocks in a small bay 2.5 miles west of the station.

It was necessary to anchor off and veer down on the casualty before a tow line could be passed, and the boat pulled out through the surf and towed to safety..