The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum has been awarded to Paul Gilson, helmsman of the Southend lifeboat, following the rescue of two people from the yacht First Knight in appalling weather conditions.

At 1351 on 23 August the station's Atlantic 21 lifeboat Percy Garon JJ launched with Paul Gilson at the helm to the aid of a 25ft yacht in difficulty, her rudder having broken off in rough seas. The crew - Clifton Warry and Duncan Clark - were chosen especially because of their extensive experience aboard racing yachts.

Meanwhile, in support, Walton and Frinton's Solent class relief lifeboat Lady MacRobert slipped her moorings a 11355 under the command of Coxswain Robert Kemp.

The wind, gusting to 50 knots, was a south-westerly Force 7/8 with rough seas and heavy rain squalls as the Atlantic 21 made her way towards the yacht 19 miles ENE of Southend Pier. At 1440, Southend lifeboat located the casualty, which was an-chored but moving violently in the rough seas, snubbing sharply as she swung about on the anchor warp.

With caution, the helmsman drove the lifeboat hard alongside the yacht's port side to allow crew member Warry to climb aboard.

Seasickness and exhaustion Warry found the two occupants suffering" from seasickness and the skipper reluctant to leave the yacht.

But it was too rough for the Atlantic 21 to tow the yacht safely, and the female occupant was su ffering badly from exhaustion and seasickness.

Warry checked the yacht's anchor warp and secured and closed up the vessel. As she was moving violently, the helmsman had to approach her four or five times before it was safe to take off the survivors and crew member Warry- Course was set for Burnham-on-Crouch.

At 1535 the casual ties were safely transferred to Walton's all-weather lifeboat, which had arranged to rendezvous with the Atlantic 21.

After discussions, the coxswainRobert Kemp then agreed to tow First Knight to Brightlingsea and helmsman Gilson agreed to assist with the securing of the towline.

With two coir fenders from the Walton lifeboat streamed astern from the yacht, a towline was passedfrom the all-wea ther lifeboat using the Atlantic 21 and the tow began.

The return passage to Southend began at 1612. At the same time, violent motion on the Walton lifeboat caused a crew member to crush his fingers in the wheelhouse door.

With the lifeboat likely to be at sea for another two hours, a helicopter airlifted the man to hospital where he was treated for severe bruising.

After an arduous return passage, the Atlantic 21 arrived at Southend Pier soon after 2000 and was ready for service again at 2030. Walton and Frinton's lifeboat was ready for service at 2052.

For 'their support, seamanship and skill throughout' crew members Clifton Warry and Duncan Clark have been awarded framed Letters of Thanks signed by RNLI Chairman Michael Vernon..