Atlantics join forces to save yacht crew on Chichester Bar The Institution's Bronze medal for bravery has been awarded to crew member Graham Raines of the Hayling Island lifeboat crew following a very difficult rescue involving two Atlantic class lifeboats on 9 October 1988. Conditions during the service were at the very limit of the operational capability forthe two rigid inflatable lifeboats.

The thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum have been awarded to the other five lifeboatmen involved. They are Helmsman Frank Dunster and crew member Roderick James of the Hayling Island lifeboat and Helmsman Martin Icke and crew members Paul Venton and Adrian West of the Portsmouth (Langstone Harbour) lifeboat.

At 1317 on 9 October 1988, while on exercise in Langstone Harbour, Portsmouth' s Atlantic 21 City of Portsmouth was asked by Solent Coastguard to investigate a report that two people were overboard from the 32ft yacht Dingaling at Chichester Bar.

The yacht, with six people on board, had been on passage from Cowes to Chichester when she had broached and been knocked down.

Mayday The wind was SW Force 7/8, and against the tide, producing steep seas some 8-10ft high. Skilful handling was required by Helmsman Martin Icke at Langstone Harbour entrance, and once clear of the East Winner Bank a course was set for Chichester Bar.

Meanwhile, Solent Coastguard had also informed Hayling Island lifeboat of theMayday call, and the crew, already mustered at the lifeboat station following an earlier unconnected alert, immediately prepared to launch in heavy and difficult seas under the command of Helmsman Frank Dunster. The lifeboat cleared the harbour, sighted the yacht and made good speed to arrive on the scene by 1324.

Conditions were very rough, with steep breaking waves estimated at 15ft. The yacht's propeller had been fouled and Dingaling was wallowing under a storm jib as the two lifeboats made their way towards her in the severe conditions.

At 1325 Helmsman Dunster spotted a man in the sea, floating on his back with arms outstretched. A helicopter which had also been called to the scene failed to recover the casualty at the first attempt so Helmsman Dunster immediately manoeuvred the lifeboat to effect a rescue. Crew member Raines leapt into the water and swam to support theman, who appeared to be unconscious.

At the same time a woman was spotted, face down, to the west of the lifeboat and the helicopter diverted to her position. Crew member Raines inflated his lifejacket and shouted encouragement to the man, who responded by wrapping his legs around his rescuer.

Helmsman Dunster positioned the lifeboat to pick up the two men on his port side, but the first attempt failed and on the second approach the lifeboat was knocked off-line by breaking seas and driven down on top of the two men.

Submerged Crew member Raines and the survivor were submerged under the lifeboat, but resurfaced off the starboard quarter, still clinging together. Crew member James, aboard the Atlantic, reached to help the two people in the water but the violent motion threw him in to the sea with them. He managed to grasp a lifeline and also grab hold of crew member Raines, establishing contact between the lifeboat and those in the water.

Helmsman Dunster, now alone in the lifeboat, immediately put the starboard engine in neutral to prevent the propeller injuring those in the water, and fought to keep the lifeboat head to sea with one engine.

At this point, at 1328, the Portsmouth lifeboat arrived on the scene after negotiating rough and rolling seas on her four-mile passage. Helmsman Icke had manoeuvred to pick up the woman in the water, but the helicopter winchman was able to lift her from the sea.

Seeing the plight of the Hayling Island lifeboat. Helmsman Icke brought his Atlantic alongside the port side of the Hayling boat, so that one of his crew, Paul Venton, could jump on to the aft deck. This transferwas a hazardous operation and crew member Venton fell heavily.

Despite being shaken, he recovered quickly and pulled the survivor and crew member Raines aboard the Hayling lifeboat while crew member James hauled himself aboard.

During this time the Portsmouth lifeboat had stood by and was able to establish that everyone aboard Dingaling had been accounted for, since there had been some confusion about how many people had been in the water.

Meanwhile Dingaling broached several times, taking heavy seas into her cockpit and was moving very slowly north east under storm jib.

Aboard the Hayling lifeboat, crew member James attended to the survivor, who was breathing but barely conscious, and encouraged him to talk.

As first aid was being administered, a very high breaking and curling sea stood the lifeboat vertically on her stern and filled her with water. The survivor was swept up between the engines, and recovered, but once clear of the wave the lifeboat's starboard engine stopped, although she was able to continue on the port engine.

At 1329 the Coastguard helicopter prepared to lift the casualty from the Hayling lifeboat, but two attempts to land the winchman failed in the atrocious sea conditions.

Helmsman Dunster then headed south towards a slightly more sheltered area and, although the seas were still very rough, a successful transfer was completed by 1400.

Crew member Venton was now returned to the Portsmouth lifeboat, whiclv was escorting Dingaling back to harbour in heavy seas. Helmsman Dunster decided that the Hayling boat should join the Portsmouth lifeboat in this duty, reasoning that although she was running on only one engine the Portsmouth Atlantic would be close at hand for support.

Tow Using great skill and expertise Helmsman Dunster negotiated the following sea and gradually conditions improved. By now crew member Raines had begun to suffer from vomiting.

Once inside the harbour entrance, at 1445, Dingaling was taken in tow by the Portsmouth lifeboat and berthed at Sparke's Marina.

It was later learned that the woman lifted from the water by helicopter was dead on arrival at hospital, but the man, although detained overnight suffering from shock and hypothermia, was released from hospital the following day.

As conditions had moderated a little, Portsmouth lifeboat was taken back to station and was ready for service at 1612. The Hayling Island lifeboat was returned to station at 1630, refuelled, the starboard engine restarted, tested and made ready for service..