Yachtsman transferred in 'appalling9 conditions A service by Weymouth lifeboat on 13 April 1992 has Jed to the Director sending a letter of appreciation to Second Coxswain David Pitman, the station's Honorary Medical Adviser Dr Will Bowditch and the other crew members. The letter comments on a 'fine display of teamwork'.

At 0035 Portland coastguard received a Mayday call from the Dutch yacht L.T.Harry whose only occupant had been unconscious for nearly ten hours after a massive wave had hit the yacht. 12 minutes later Weymouth's 54ft Arun class Tony Vandervell was launched and a coastguard helicopter scrambled.

While heading towards the casualty the lifeboat managed to obtain a D/F bearing and red flares from the casualty resulted in a good bearing and a sighting by the helicopter.

The lifeboat reached the casualty, some 30 miles from the station, at 0230 to find weather conditions at the scene appalling, with a NW Force 6 to 7gusting 8 and a swell some8m high.

It was decided to bring the survivor aboard the lifeboat and then transfer him to the helicopter. Acting Coxswain David Pitman brought the lifeboat alongside and put the Honorary Medical Advisor, Dr Will Bowditch, and two crew members on board.

After the casualty had been examined he and the HMA were taken back aboard the lifeboat while the crew members remained on the yacht.

The survivor was lifted into the helicopter but the line became snagged so the HMA remained on the lifeboat while the helicopter flew the Dutch yachtsman to Weymouth hospital. Tony Vandervell returned to the vacant yacht and she was eventually brought into the safety of Weymouth harbour at 1030.

The yachtsman made a satisfactory recovery in hospital and later continued to his Plymouth destination..