Tyne rescues crews of two yachts in galeThe Director of the RNLI has written to thank the crew of the Ramsgate lifeboatfor a service 'carried out very professionally' after the station's Tyne had rescued the crews of two yachts in a February gale.

It was at 1850 on 22 February 1992 that Ramsgate's Tyne class lifeboat Kenneth Thelivall //left the harbour on service to the two yachts, a service which was to keep her at sea for nearly six hours in gale force winds. The yachts were reported to be a mile south-west of the Falls Light Vessel, some 15 miles just south of east from the station, and the wind was southwesterly Force 6 to 7 at Ramsgate but considerably stronger at sea in the vicinity of the yachts.

With the help of a Sea King helicopter from RAF Mans ton the two sailing yachts were finally located, seven miles to the east of the light vessel, where the 28ft Storm Song was towing the disabled 26ft Simona with two people on board. Simona had a rope around her propeller'.

The lifeboat reached the casualty at 2030, with the wind now south-west between Force 8 and Severe Gale Force 9. As she approached Simona, which was to be taken in tow, Storm Song released her towline and Kenneth Thelwall II made hers fast. The two people aboard Simona were taken aboard the lifeboat and the 22-mile tow back to Ramsgate began.

Some 15 minutes later Storm Song called to say that she was making no headway in the conditions and that the crew (there were two peopleaboard) was becoming unwell and required assistance.

The lifeboat, with Simona in tow, was crossing the very busy SW shipping separation lane at the time, but was able to turn back to Storm Song, put a tow line aboard and take the two crew off. With tow lines now made fast to both yachts the Tyne set off once again for Ramsgate while Second Coxswain Derek Pegden tended the unwell survivor - who was suffering from shock and cold. He and the other three survivors were wrapped in blankets while the long, slow tow continued.

The beam trawler Angelena which had been on passage to Ramsgate took up position as an escort back to Ramsgate, but the Tyne was able to tow both boats without any problems despite the conditions. However, when only one-and-a-half miles f rt>m Ramsgate Simona began to sink, and within a few minutes she had disappeared.

The tow line was buoyed off and slipped from the lifeboat which en-tered Ramsgate harbour at 0025 with just Storm Song in tow. The surviving yacht was berthed in the marina and all four survivors were taken to the local yacht club for the night.

The lifeboat was refuelled and ready for service again at 0200, despite some minor damage sustained while transferring the survivors to the lifeboat.

At 1000 that day, 23 February, the lifeboat returned to the wreck of Simona in order to recover her tow line, accompanied by a local trawler which later raised the yacht and took her to Ramsgate..