Anticipatory launch ends in eight calls on two lifeboats Eastbourne South East Division Both of Eastbourne's lifeboats were launched in anticipation of problems on 17 July 1988, when freshening conditions on the day of the London to Brighton powerboat race began to cause trouble.

The two lifeboats were later involved in a large number of incidents during a five-hour period, and the chief of operations of the RNLI has commended both crews for their action, and Coxswain Graham Cole of the station's Rother class lifeboat for instigating the launches.

At 1600 Coxswain Cole telephoned the • station honorary secretary to say that powerboats passing Eastbourne towards Beachy Head were thought to be in difficulty, as the wind had freshened to Force 5 or 6 from the SW, kicking up quite a rough sea particularly in the overfalls off Beachy Head.

The lifeboat had not been requested by the Coastguard, but the coxswain asked that both boats be launched 'on exercise' as a precaution.

Stand-by The crews were assembled by telephone, although many of them were already at the station in expectation of a launch, and at 1622 the 37ft 6in Rother Duke of Kent was launched, followed by the D class inflatable Humphry and Nora Tollemache.

The inflatable stood by a mile offshore in Eastbourne Bay, and the Rother headed for a stand-by position off Beachy Head, reporting to the coastguard at 1655 that she was in position about half a mile off the ledge and that conditions were rough, with a 1 Oft sea in the overfalls as the ebb ran over the ledge.

Within minutes of arriving at their standby positions both lifeboats were in action.

At 1700 the inflatable was asked to assist a windsurfer, who subsequently made the shore unaided, and then asked to check for a runabout in the bay. The boat was later reported safe in Newhaven, so the D class returned to her stand-by position.

Meanwhile at 1702 the Rother had been called to a competitor in the London to Brighton race which was in difficulty slightlywest of Birling Gap. Reaching the casualty at 1724 she discovered that the boat was aground, but that the occupants were safely ashore with the coastguard.

Less than five minutes later another boat from the race was reported in a sinking condition five miles west of Beachy Head, but as Duke of Kent headed for the position given she spotted yet another of the competitors in difficulty and requiring assistance.

Coxswain Cole immediately asked for the Newhaven lifeboat to be launched to the boat off Beachy Head, and went to the assistance of the new casualty, which had lost the use of one outboard engine. Although the second engine was still running the reduced speed meant she was shipping water, and the crew asked to be escorted to Newhaven.

Scurrying Newhaven's Arun Keith Anderson had been launched and was towing the Beachy Head casualty back to station, so coxswain Cole asked if she would also take over the escort of the latest racing boat to fall foul of the conditions and take her to the same harbour.

While the offshore boat had been scurrying between incidents the inflatable had also been busy. No sooner had she regained the stand-by position after the first two calls than the crew spotted a yacht in a dangerous position off Cow Gap.

Manoeuvring alongside they informed the skipper of his position, only to be told that he was looking for Eastbourne harbour. The crew were able to tell him that it had not been built yet, and escorted the yacht to a safe anchorage off Eastbourne.

The D class then returned to station - unaware that they would shortly be launching again to help with one of the Rother's casualties.

Meanwhile a fourth competitor in the powerboat race had been reported missing andDuke of Kent headed for Beachy Head to start a search.

Soon afterwards the boat was reported in the vicinity of Newhaven, and then at 1816 confirmed as off Coodon - some 12 miles from the Rother's position.

Exhausted The lifeboat's ETA at the casualty was 1945, but as the race boat was out of fuel and anchored, and not in immediate danger there was no need to launch the Hastings lifeboat which could have reached her sooner.

Duke of Kent reached the boat at 1942 to find her crew in an exhausted state and one with a knee injury. They could not raise her anchor so it was buoyed with one of the lifeboat's fenders and slipped.

The weather had moderated slightly and so Duke of Kent was able to tow the race boat at full speed back to Eastbourne - earlier suggestions of beaching the casualty were rejected because of the unnecessary damage this would have caused to her propellers and shafts.

When the lifeboat and her tow reached Eastbourne the D class was launched again to lay an anchor, and the race boat was made fast on this at 2055. By 2105 the lifeboat was returned to station and the injured survivor taken to hospital by ambulance.

During the five hours the lifeboats had been on service Duke of Kent had rendered assistance to four of the racing boats and the inflatable Humphry and Nora Tollemache had attended a sailboard, a powerboat and a yacht - a total of eight calls..