Windsurfer saved in broken seas and 8ft surf A service carried out by Bridlington's D class inflatable lifeboat in very heavy seas has earned the helmsman, Andrew Brompton, a framed letter of thanks from the chairman of the RNLI, and crew members Andrew Day and Brian Cundall a similar letter from the chief of operations.On 11 April 1989 Humber MRSC informed the honorary secretary of Bridlington lifeboat station that a windsurfer was in difficulties just south of Bridlington har- bour.

A SE Force 6 wind was creating breaking surf on the beach about 4ft high, but after discussions about the conditions the honorary secretary agreed to the launch of the D class lifeboat, because of the immediacy of the situation, and also to bring the station's Mersey class Alex and Peggy Caird to a state of immediate readiness.

The D class crew were paged at 1340 and by 1344 the lifeboat was launched from the beach and headed for the casualty's reported position.

Once through the surf on the beach good progress was being made towards the given position, about half a mile away, when the lifeboat struck a large wave and crew member Day, who was in the bow was thrown overboard.

He was recovered quickly, but as the lifeboat gathered speed he was thrown in the air again, striking the canopy with his head and breaking the bow board with his helmet. The divisional inspector later observed that only the helmet had saved him from injury.

The lifeboat reached the given position without further incident, but nothing could be seen over the short breaking seas, estimated as up to 8ft high in this position.

Taking way off the boat the crew radioed the Coastguard for confirmation of the casualty's position, but as the lifeboat crested a wave another sailboarder waved the lifeboat to the north.

At 1352 the inflatable crested another large wave and the crew spotted the casualty about 50 yards north of Bridlington NorthPier. The board was lying head-to-sea with the rig in the water astern and to port, and the windsurfer lying prone on the board with his head to the stern.

Although the wind was still NE Force 6 and the seas some 8ft high the casualty was clear of the harbour bar and the waves were not as confused as further to the south. The tide was setting to the north, away from the harbour and the visibility good, despite the overcast conditions and rain.

Approaching from inshore to make a headto- sea pick-up the lifeboat crew asked the sailor to leave the board, as the rig was a potential hazard. He refused, so the helmsman decided to approach the apparently clear starboard side of the board and brought the lifeboat into position.

The survivor was hauled aboard, but as he cleared the board the rig went underneath it and fouled the inflatable's propeller. Helmsman Brompton put the engine full ahead and the propeller tore free of the sail as the lifeboat moved clear, leaving the board in the water.

Conditions were such that the helmsman decided it would be better to land the survivor inside the harbour, rather than on the exposed beach, so he made an approach over the bar in very broken water. The lifeboat filled continuously in the seas on the bar but was taken through them safely and the survivor landed.

After waiting for two other windsurfers to make the shore safely the lifeboat was rehoused and ready for service again at 1435..