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..