Two saved after ten-hour service in south westerly gale Great Yarmouth and Gorleston's Waveney class lifeboatBarham was involved in an arduous, ten-hour service to a yacht on 10 July 1988. The service, in gale force conditions, has been commended by the chief of operations in a letter to the station.First news of the casualty was received at 1940, when Great Yarmouth Coastguard reported that the auxiliary yacht Viking was leaking and suffering from engine trouble five miles NE of the Smiths Knoll Lightvessel, some 32 miles from the station.

The 44ft Waveney class Barham was launched at 1945, with the wind around Force 4 from the south west, and after passing through Yarmouth Roads and Caister Roads to the North Scroby buoy set a coursejust north of west towards the yacht's position.

The lifeboat took more than two-and-ahalf hours to reach the casualty, the wind steadily increasing from the south west as she neared the yacht.

Regular updates on the casualty's positionwere received from Great Yarmouth Coastguard, until the yacht came in range of the lifeboat's VHF radio direction finder.

This confirmed the course and at 2221, just before dark, the lifeboat reached the yacht.

The wind was now Force 7 to 8, and the seas rough.

One of the yacht's two crew members was transferred to the lifeboat, and a tow line passed and secured at 2300 ready for the long tow back to Great Yarmouth.

Heading into the gale force wind and rough sea the tow home was a slow one, and it was not until 0400, when the lifeboat reached the lee of the land, that she was able to increase speed slightly.

Finally, at 0530, Barham and her casualty reached Great Yarmouth where the yacht was moored in the harbour and the lifeboat returned to her berth at 0545..