D class lifeboat rescues 36 people from canoes, yacht and raftsCleethorpes' D class inflatable liferaft was involved in three services on one day on 30 July 1989, rescuing no less than 36 people. The first service started as the crew were checking the lifeboat prior to an exercise. Humber coastguard was heard on the VHP radio, asking Humber lifeboat to check the river for five canoeists en route from Grimsby to Spurn Point.Some minutes later the lifeboat was tasked to a yacht reported sinking, so the crew members informed the honorary secretary of the situation as the weather was deteriorating and they were concerned for the safety of the canoeists.

The honorary secretary immediately agreed to launch the lifeboat and as the boat was being towed across the beach Humber Coastguard, informed of the launch, reported the canoeists to be rafted together and believed to be in the Clee Ness area.

The lifeboat launched at 1023 into rough seas and rapidly deteriorating conditions.

Making best speed down to the area of the casualties they encountered a wind now up to gale force, heavy rain reducing the visibility to some 100 yards and confused seas 8ft to 10ft high.

Squall The lifeboat reached the search area at the worst of the squall, with the wind estimated at Force 10, and, with the D class constantly full of water, she began to search. There was no sign of the canoes but the lifeboat was in touch with them by radio and asked them to fire a flare - which was spotted some 200 yards downwind.

The casualties were at last spotted at 1042, at only 60 yards range, rafted together with one capsized and its occupant in the water.

All five people were taken aboard and with eight people now on board and the lifeboatstill full of water progress was slow.

Humber Coastguard responded by asking the Pilot launch Neptune to assist and after three attempts the D class was able to transfer the casualties to the launch to be taken ashore at Grimsby docks.

The lifeboat returned to the canoes and towed them to Cleethorpes beach where they were recovered by the station's launchers at 1125.

Dragging There was no time to go ashore though, as Humber CG immediately requested the lifeboat to go to Spurn Point, where a yacht with a broken mast was dragging its anchor.

Leaving Cleethorpes beach at 1125 the lifeboat arrived at Spurn Bight at 1153 to find the yacht aground in moderate surf kicked up by a Force 6 wind and the Pilot launch Fox standing by.

Two minutes later the D class was alongside - touching the bottom in the troughs - and found the two occupants to be safe.

She was able to secure a tow line and by 1205 had begun the slow process of taking the yacht to Grimsby, arriving there oneand- a-half hours later.

With the yacht and her two crew safely inharbour the lifeboat made the passage back to Cleethorpes by 1405 and was ready for service again fifteen minutes later.

However the lifeboat was to be called on yet again that day, for at 1515 she launched again to stand by a charity raft race.

The weather conditions deteriorated sharply just over half-an-hour into the race, when the wind picked up from Force 4 to a squally Force 6 to 7 from the NNW.

Other boats escorting the rafts returned to the beach leaving the D class to cover 18 rafts, each with 4 to 6 people aboard.

The helmsman decided to take up position at the Haile Sand Fort, where the rafts would be turning into the worst of the weather.

The first two rounded at 1620 and made fair progress towards the finish but the third was swamped, throwing its four occupants into the water. They were recovered, but the lifeboat radioed Humber CG that more lifeboats or rescue craft would be needed as the situation was becoming very bad.

The CG alerted other vessels, including the fishing vessel Eva ere wed by other RNLI personnel.

Hypothermia Returning to the beach with the first four casualties the lifeboat found another overturned raft with four people, none with lifejackets, clinging to it. Two were showing signs of hypothermia and an ambulance was requested to meet the lifeboat at Humber Mouth Yacht Club, where all eight survivors were landed.

Returning to the casualty area the D class found another raft with four more people in the water. Three were taken aboard, but the fourth was in a bad way and one of the crew members had to enter the water to help him.

Other vessels had now arrived on the scene and when returning from landing the survivors the lifeboat found Eva picking up more casualties and indicating another casualty to the north. Three more people were recovered, only one of whom was wearing a lifejacket, and taken ashore.

Ebb The next trip resulted in a raft with eight people on board, making no headway against the ebb, being towed to the beach and on the following one another raft with six people aboard was also towed ashore.

At 1750 Cleethorpes coastguard reported everyone safely ashore, but the lifeboat could not join them yet. For the next hour she searched the area with two boats from a local diving club and towed two more abandoned and drifting rafts ashore.

At 1845 she was finally able to return to the beach and at 1910 was ready for service again after her hectic day..