Atlantic tows MFV and four crew to safety from lee shoreHelmsman Jonathan Adnams of Southwold lifeboat station has been accorded the Thanks of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution inscribed on Vellum, following a service to a fishing vessel in gale force winds on the morning of 11 April 1989.

In his official report, Mr Tim Harrison, deputy inspector of lifeboats for the Eastern division, said 'Helmsman Adnams and his crew carried out this service in very difficult conditions. Complete concentration and determined effort were required to bring the lifeboat to the casualty in dangerous broken water, to tow her to windward and then return safely to harbour.'For their part in the service, crew-members Paul Horsnell and Marcus Gladwell were awarded Vellum service certificates.

At 0915 on 11 April 1989, John Huggins, deputy launching authority of the Southwold lifeboat, was informed by Yarmouth Coastguard that the MFV Aquamanda II had broken down three quarters of a mile off Covehithe. The lifeboat crew were pagedand at 0920 Southwold' s Atlantic 21 lifeboat The Quiver was launched with Jonathan Adnams at the helm. The wind was SSE Force 7 in the river, and the weather overcast with moderate visibility.Full speed was maintained in the river, but on approaching the harbour entrance speed was reduced in the short, steep 6ft-8ft seas.

After clearing the harbour entrance, where the water depth was no more than 3ft-4ft on the first of a spring flood, the helmsman first turned east to clear the shoal area, then north, parallel to and about half a mile from the coast. With the sea on her starboard quarter The Quiver gave her crew an uncomfortable corkscrewing ride which the helmsman kept under control by staying at about threequarter speed.

The casualty could not be found off Covehithe, and as the wind increased to Force 8 it was established by radio that she was further north, off Kessingland. The lifeboat turned on to a more northerly course and the MFV was spotted at 0940, drifting steadily with her bows facing east and rolling heavily - her anchor having little effect. She was in about .12ft of water, with a short, breaking sea.

Lee shore Helmsman Adnams stationed the lifeboat off the casualty's port quarter and realised that as the vessel was on to a lee shore, she had to be towed clear as soon as possible. A tow line was passed quickly, the casualty's anchor warp cut and the tow began at 0946.

After pulling the casualty from the shallows a course was set to the north, towards Lowestoft which was only three miles distant.

The tow was difficult as the casualty was surfing on the following seas, and almost catching the lifeboat. The tow line snatched repeatedly, making the helmsman anxious about damage to the lifeboat.

Lowestoft' s 47ft Tyne class lifeboat, Spirit of Lowestoft, had been launched at 0943 and came up to the Southwold lifeboat a little after 0950. After consultation with the Lowestoft coxswain, John Catchpole, it was decided that the larger lifeboat should take over the tow. The Atlantic's tow line was slipped and Spirit of Lowestoft passed another to the casualty. The Quiver stood-by for the first quarter of mile to ensure all was well before turning back, against the sea, for Southwold.

In the rough seas, speed had to be kept down to about half of normal and the return journey took an hour. A quarter of a mile north of Southwold Town Pier, a sudden squall with torrential rain and winds up to Force 9, made conditions extremely difficult, but the lifeboat entered harbour safely on the flood tide, returned to station and was ready for service again by 1115.

The Lowestoft lifeboat towed the fishing vessel to harbour, bringing her four crew to safety..