Lifeboatman put aboard yacht in gale force winds after skipper is taken ill The night-time rescue of two people aboard a yacht in gale force winds has earned Richard Hawkins, Coxswain/Mechanic of the Great Yarmouth and Gorleston lifeboat, the Thanks of the RNLI inscribed on Vellum. In his official report of the service Tom Nutman, inspector of lifeboats for the east division, paid tribute to Coxswain Mechanic Hawkins' 'exemplary manner, great awareness and considerable handling skills.'The rescue began at 2328 on Sunday 19 August 1990, when Neal Duffield, the honorary secretary of Great Yarmouth and Gorleston lifeboat station, heard from Yarmouth Coastguard that the skipper of the yacht Southern Cross was suffering severe chest pains and that the only other crew member aboard was too inexperienced to cope. The rig support vessel Promoter was already heading for the scene and Mr Duffield agreed to an immediate launch of the lifeboat, the 44ft Waveney class lifeboat Khami, which slipped her moorings at 2335 and proceeded on service with Coxswain/ Mechanic Richard Hawkins at the helm.

Once dear of the harbour the hfeboat set course for the Cross Sands Buoy in a westerly Force 7 and a sea which was increasing in height. Using the lifeboat's VHP direction finder, the yacht's position was pin-pointed 6 miles from the Smiths Knoll light vessel.

A little over an hour-anda- half later, at 0110 on 20 August, the lifeboat reached the yacht to find her under sail and making 5 knots through the water, but pitching and rolling heavily inseas up to 10ft high. The wind was now WNW gale Force 8, with rough, short seas and a heavy northerly swell. It was heavily overcast with rain squalls and moderate visibility due to rain and spray. A helicopter from RAF Coltishall arrived at the scene but could not close with the yacht in the poor conditions, preferring instead to lift the skipper from the lifeboat.

The Coxswain made two attempts at coming alongside the yacht which were thwarted by the yawing and veering of the casualty, forcing him to move the lifeboat clear each time. On the third attempt, Second Coxswain David Mason managed to leap aboard the yacht to assess the situation.

He found the 22-stone skipper weak and unsteady, and decided that he would have to be transferred to the lifeboat amidships rather than from the bow. It took four attempts before the lifeboat was in a position to receive the skipper, but at the vital moment his legs gave way and the lifeboat had to be moved away once more. On the sixth approach the survivor jumped and was hauled aboard by the lifeboat crew.

The second coxswain took control of the yacht and set a course for Great Yarmouth while the helicopter was recalled to evacuate the survivor to hospital. Conditions were such that it took five attempts before a winchman and stretcher could be landed on the lifeboat's deck and the yacht's skipper winched aboard the helicopter. This was finally achieved at 0150.

Having transferred the casualty to the helicopter the lifeboat set off in pursuit of the yacht and the Second Coxswain, catching up with them at 0217 and passing a tow line. A long and slow journey was completed without incident and the two vessels entered Great Yarmouth Harbour safely at 0515, after nearly six hours at sea, and the lifeboat was re-fueled and ready for service once more at 0555.

For their part in the service, Second Coxswain David Mason was awarded a framed letter of thanks signed by the Chairman of the RNLI and crew members Michael Brown, Patrick Lee, Brian Baldwin and David Grief have been awarded VeJJum Service Certificates.

Richard Hawkins has already been awarded the RNLI's Bronze medal for Gallantry (in 1979) and three Vellums, in 1975,1982 and 1986..