Two lifeboats in night search for disabled yacht in heavy seas The Institution's chief of operations has written to Stephen Vince, the Coxswain/Mechanic of Poole lifeboat, to congratulate him on his leadership and boat handling skill during an arduous night service to a yacht in difficulties, a call which also involved the Swanage lifeboat.At 2040 on 18 May 1990 the Coastguard informed the deputy launching authority at Poole that the yacht La Mouette with three people on board was overdue. Earlier the yacht had reported steering failure near Old Harry Rocks, in the vicinity of Swanage, but that she was progressing under power.

In fine weather, but with a strong easterly wind making the sea very rough, the 33ft Brede class lifeboat Inner Wheel left her moorings at 2100 to search the entrance channel and then proceeded to Old Harry Rocks, where she spotted two yachts, neither of which was the casualty.

The Swanage lifeboat Horace Clarkson was also launched, at 2112, to join the search.

Inner Wheel was searching along the west of Swanage Bay when the Coastguard lookout at St Aldhelm 's Head, further to the west, saw a yacht steering a confused course and, in fading daylight, directed a rescue helicopter to the yacht's position - five-and-a-half miles south west of the headland. The helicopter lowered a diver onto the yacht where it was learnt that this was the casualty, with a badly damaged rudder.

The Poole lifeboat arrived on the scene at 2200 and, in gale force winds and very rough seas with a swell of about 15ft, transferred the diver on board the lifeboat and put a lifeboat crew member onto the yacht.

Manoeuvring away from the casualty to enable the helicopter to lift off the diver the crew prepared a tow line, passing it to La Mouette with the assistance of Swanage lifeboat which had arrived at the scene some 20 minutes after Inner Wheel.

The lifeboat took the casualty in tow toPoole, up-wind and up-sea in winds which were reaching gale Force 8. The tow was a slow one, due to the sea conditions and the small size of the yacht, and the line chafed through and parted three times at the yacht's bow fairlead. The tow was successfully reconnected each time, despite the darkness and the wind and sea conditions, and at 0325 the yacht was berthed safely at Poole Quay.

The onshore wind at Swanage prevented Horace Clarkson from being safely re-housed and she also made for Poole, arriving at 0230 and returning to station later that day.

The yacht's crew were given hot drinks at the boathouse until they were taken home by their families, and the lifeboat was back on her moorings ready for service at 0340..