Lifeboatmen transferred to Belgian yacht in gale and heavy seas A joint service by Southwold's Atlantic 21 class lifeboat Quiver and Lowestoft's Tyne Spirit of Lowestoft has won two lifeboatmen framed letters of thanks from the Institution's chairman.

The Atlantic 21 was the first lifeboat to launch, following a report that a yacht had 'capsized', leaving her station at 1458.Although nothing was found a helicopter which had been scrambled at the same time located the 34ft Belgian yacht Haura in distress close to the Newcombe Sand off Kessingland. The skipper had been injured and his wife was at the helm, close hauled under reefed mains'l.

The Atlantic made full speed towards the casualty in a wind which was now Force 7 from the south and in rough seas.

By the time she reached the casualty the wind had increased to full gale, with seas that had reached 6ft to 8ft, and great skill was needed to bring the lifeboat close enough for crew member Marcus Gladwell to jump aboard.At this point Spirit of Lowestoft arrived on the scene, having launched just over 10 minutes before at 1603, and the Atlantic then transferred Second Coxswain Shane Coleman to the yacht to assist crew member Gladwell.

With the yacht's sails stowed warps were streamed aft and the Tyne took up the tow while the Atlantic 21 stood-by off the casu-ally's quarter. Conditions were now very rough, with particularly heavy seas off the South Newcombe Buoy lifting the Atlantic to within 10°of the vertical, and the yacht being laid over onto her beam ends as they entered the main channel to Lowestoft.

Both lifeboats entered Lowestoft with the casualty at 1725.

In addition to the two letters from the chairman the director of the RNLI has also written to Coxswain John Catchpole of Lowestoft in appreciation of the skill he displayed in assessing the situation and establishing a tow in difficult conditions before the yacht struck the sand..