Nine rescued from ketch ashore on sands near Chichester Bar A difficult service which led to the rescue of nine people from a yacht aground on the East Pole Sands, just outside Chichester Harbour, has led to the chairman of the RNLI sending a letter of thanks to the helmsman of the Hayling Island Atlantic 21 class lifeboat, Roderick James, and to Crew Member Frank Dunster who took his own boat out to assist the Atlantic.Letters of thanks from the chief of operations were also sent to crew members John Jones, Graham Raines and Robert Biggs who were aboard the Atlantic 21 and shore helper Christopher Driscoll who was aboard Frank Dunster's boat.

The first news of the casualty was at 1315 on 24 September 1988 when Hayling Island's deputy launching authority, Patrick Lamperd, was paged by Solent Coastguard MRSC and advised that the 41ft Sun Fizz ketch Seaway Endeavour was in difficulties just south of Chichester bar.

The ketch, with nine people aboard, had lost her steering and the engine had failed.

The DLA agreed to an immediate launch and, on learning the number of people aboard the yacht, crew member Frank Dunster went to board his own boat, accompanied by shore helper Christopher Driscoll.At 1328 the Hayling Island Atlantic 21 lifeboat Aldershot, was launched and proceeded on service. On board were helmsman Roderick James and crew members John Jones, Graham Raines and Robert Briggs.

Breaking seas The wind was from the SW, Force 7, with rough sea conditions, it was overcast with drizzle but good visibility. High water had been at 1100 and the Spring ebb was running south at 3 knots.

On clearing the harbour Helmsman James saw the casualty drifting into rough breaking seas 7ft to 10ft high on the East Pole sands.The seas were made worse by wind against tide conditions and a heavy southerly swell left from earlier gales.

In view of the conditions Helmsman James requested the support of a larger lifeboat and Bembridge's Tyne class lifeboat, already at sea for a previous incident, was diverted by Solent Coastguard.

Helmsman James considered that the casualty was in such imminent danger that it was not possible to wait for the Tyne and prepared to effect a rescue before the casualty became engulfed in the shoal water.

While taking up position the Atlantic was caught by two heavy breaking seas. The first caused her to broach, and the second to fill with water and turn her through 180 degrees before control was regained.

Jet boat By this time Frank Dunster had launched his own 28ft rigid inflatable Hayling Rescue, powered by a jet unit and with Christopher Driscoll aboard. He could see the difficulties experienced by the Atlantic 21.

The ketch continued to drift into the East Pole sands. Her anchor had run out to the bitter end of the cable, fouling the propeller, stopping the engine and jamming the rudder before breaking out of the chain locker.

The crew managed to lay out a kedge anchor, but this was not enough to stop the boat dragging into shallow water, beam-on to the breaking seas.

Frank Dunster, aboard Hayling Rescue, spoke to Helmsman James on the radio and they agreed it would be prudent to evacuate the crew as quickly as possible.

At 1244 Frank Dunster skilfully manoeuvred his boat alongside the casualty andusing her jet propulsion was able to wedge his boat alongside long enough to transfer five people aboard. Skilfully handled, his 28ft boat was able to withstand the long, heavy breaking seas, which caused the boats to range considerably.

The Hayling Island Atlantic 21 tended to be knocked away more readily by the seas, and as the casualty was continuing to drag into shallower and rougher water the operation became even more difficult.

Knocked away Nevertheless, Helmsman James was able to position the bow of the Atlantic 21, head to sea and in contact with the casualty, just long enough to snatch the four remaining persons on board the lifeboat.

The transfer took a number of attempts as the Atlantic was frequently knocked away by the breaking seas. On the second attempt one survivor was taken aboard but fell into the water. He was immediately recovered.

It took a further three attempts to rescue the remaining people, and by the time the last one was transferred the casualty was grounding heavily in the troughs. The time was 1404.

The return passage to station was made without undue difficulty and the survivors landed at the lifeboat station to join those previously landed by Hayling Rescue.

The difficult service had been accomplished in just one hour from the first call, and at 1414 the Hayling Island lifeboat was rehoused and made ready for service.

Frank Dunster was later able to salvage the ketch, using his own boat in a difficult operation on the next tide, and bring her ashore to a local marina..