Family rescue An unusual family rescue began on 11 July 1991 when James Tyrrell, the brother of Arklow's second coxswain and who is also the station's honorary secretary set sail with another friend in his 18ft sailing dinghy Coinin Ban.

As the two men left Arklow harbour that evening, the wind increased to a south easterly Force 6/7 and the sea became too rough to return to harbour. The sails were lowered and Mr Tyrrell decided not to run the dinghy ashore in case they capsized in the breaking seas on the beach.

The two men tried instead to attract the attention of a man ashore at Porters Rocks.

Meanwhile, Mr Tyrrell's eldest brother Michael, a deputy launching authority, and his younger brother John, second coxswain, were investigating why their brother had not returned to port when a 999 call from Shannon coastguard informed them that he was in difficulties.

At 2110, the two men at sea saw the lifeboat maroon fired over Arklow - 'a most heartening sight' - and they knew the Waveney class lifeboat Augustine Courtauld was on her way. The dinghy was by now drifting rapidly with a strong tide in the south easterly Force 7 wind.

The men dropped their anchor, but it would not hold. After taking some water on board, the anchor rope parted. The dinghy was nearing the rocks at Mizzen Head when the two men sighted the welcome lights of the lifeboat.

On arrival, the lifeboat crew passed a line to the two men on board the dinghy, and it was made fast. But five minutes later, the line parted. With great skill, the second coxswain manoeuvred the lifeboat so a second line could be made fast.

By now, sea conditions were very rough with the swell some 20ft and the wind a south easterly Gale Force 8. The dinghy was just 20ft from the rocks when the tow was reconnected and the dinghy was towed clear of rocks and of the tidal race.

At 2225, Mr Tyrrell's companion on board was transferred to the lifeboat as he was not feeling well. Lifeboat crewman Declan Duggan came on board the dinghy to assist with pumping out.

The tow continued to Arklow, the wind moderating to a south westerly Force 5 with heavy squally showers as the men reached safe harbour..