Tyne and helicopter work together to rescue four in heavy swell and gale The skill and determination of Second Coxswain/Mechanic John O'Donnell, of Arranmore's Tyne class lifeboat William Luckin , during a difficult eighthour service in winds of up to Force 9 has been recognised in a framed letter of Thanks from the Chairman of the Institution.It was at 2345 on Thursday 8 March 1990 that Shannon MRCC notified the station honorary secretary of Arranmore lifeboat station that a local fishing vessel, the 65ft Locative, was in difficulties - drifting with no power and uncertain of her position.

An S AR helicopter of the Army Air Corps and an RAF Nimrod began a search, and at 0015 on Friday 9 March William Luckin slipped hermooring with Second Coxswain/ Mechanic John O'Donnell in command.

The wind was NW, gale Force 8 gusting to9, the seas were more than 6ft high and a swell of some 9ft was running.

The position of the casualty was still uncertain, but she had reported that she was somewhere to the west of Burtonport so the lifeboat set course to the NW at full speed, adjusting as necessary for the large swell, and calling the casualty on the VHP radio.

There was no reply to her calls so the lifeboat continued to search out to the west of the area. However, nearly two hours into the search the Nimrod reported some faltering communication with the casualty and as a result of a rough VHF/DF bearing the search was concentrated to the SW of Arranmore, in the vicinity of Rathlin Island.

William Lukin set course to the south, arriving in the search area at 0330 to find that the Nimrod had successfully located the casualty and that the Army Air Corps helicopter was attempting to winch the survivors off.

At the casualty the wind was still Force 8 to 9 with a rough sea now running at more than 9ft and with a large swell estimated at more than 30ft. The casualty was lying beam-on tothe swell, and dead in the water with no engine power, so the helicopter's attempt to lift the survivors had so far been unsuccess- ful. At about 0335, with the helicopter flood- lighting the area, the lifeboat made an ap- proach to the port side of the casualty. The manoeuvre was attempted five or six times but was not successful because of the violent motion of the casualty in the heavy swell.

At about 0345 it was decided to try to position Locative in a better position for helicopter winching by towing her into the wind. Second Coxswain O'Donnell manoeuvred the lifeboat up to the port bow of the casualty and a heaving line and then the tow were passed.

With the tow secure, doubled to form a bridle from the lifeboat's stern, the bow of the casualty was brought slowly up into the wind and held there to provide the relative wind needed for the helicopter to lift the crew off.

Almost immediately the helicopter started a transfer from the trawler's deck, but after the first man had been winched aboard the connecting line to the helicopter parted, followed by the lifeboat's port tow line.

Second Coxswain O'Donnell had to reduce engine power to avoid the second tow line parting, and with the engines at slow speed the bow of the casualty fell off the wind another 20° and she began rolling heavily again.

Undaunted the helicoptercrew managed to recover the remaining survivors in very difficult conditions, and with all four survivors aboard the helicopter the remaining tow line was cut and the lifeboat set off to the north east to return to her station. Despite the conditions the long passage was uneventful and William Lukin was refuelled and declared ready for service again by 0800.

Locative came ashore later, and broke up on the South Donegal coast..