Arun at sea for 14 hours on three services to yachts in trouble Weymouth's Arun class lifeboat Tony Vandervell was at sea for almost 14 hours in one 25-hour period when she received three separate calls from yachts in trouble on 9 September 1989.

After the hectic 25 hours Barney Morris, the honorary secretary, asked Coxswain/Mechanic Derek Sergeant never again to say 'It's been a quiet summer due to the good weather'!The three calls and the efficient way in which they were handled earned the station a letter of appreciation from the RNLI's chief of operations.

The first of the calls came when Portland Coastguard called the station at 0140 with news of a yacht, Tradewind, some 26 miles SE of the station with engine and steering failure in the Force 6 NE wind and requesting assistance.

Injury The lifeboat slipped her mooring at 0155 and on the passage to the casualty learned that one of the two crew had been thrown across the cockpit and suffered a neck injury.

The passage took an hour and 40 minutes and on arrival at the scene the yacht was found to be almost uncontrollable in a Force 7 NE wind and a sea state of 6 (up to 20ft).

Two crew members were put aboard her with great difficulty, and not before the lifeboat had sustained some superficial damage to her starboard quarter.

The injured crew member was made comfortable, a tow line passed and the lifeboat started the long tow back. Although she had reached the casualty at 0335 it was not until 0830 that the lifeboat was back on station after securing the yacht in Weymouth harbour.

The man and woman erew of the yacht were taken to hospital and later discharged after treatment.

Just two-and-a-half hours later the station received another call from Portland Coastguard. Another yacht, Ariba, was in trouble in much the same direction, but this time some 13 miles from the station. The wind was still NE Force 6 and her crew wereexhausted and had requested lifeboat assistance.

Leaving her mooring at 1108 Tony Vandervell was with the yacht by 1202. The wind had moderated slightly to NE Force 6 but the sea had not abated. Once again a crew member and line were put aboard and the lifeboat towed the yacht back into Weymouth with the two survivors still aboard.

By 1430 the lifeboat was back on her mooring and, having been on service for some 10 hours of the day, could reasonably have expected a respite.

The respite was relatively short. At 2235 Portland Coastguard called the station once again. A third yacht was in trouble, this time 12 miles SW of the station, off Portland Bill.

The casualty was Title Boxer and her twoman crew were having trouble with her sails and engine. Leaving her mooring at 2245 the Arun reached the casualty at 2340 and yet again secured a tow line in the NE Force 6 wind with a sea still running at up to 20ft.

The two survivors remained aboard and were provided with hot drinks by the lifeboat crew during the tow back to Weymouth, which was directly upwind this time, and it was not until 0230 the following morning that the lifeboat was back on her mooring with the latest casualty also alongside in Weymouth harbour.

Ten minutes later she was ready for service again, but this time the respite was a little longer..