Three men and disabled pilot boat saved in Severe Gale and 20ft seas The rescue of three men aboard the pilot vessel Norman Forster in severe gale force winds and very heavy seas has earned Coxswain John Johnston of the Eyemouth lifeboat the Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum.

Reporting on the service the Inspector of Lifeboats for the Scottish Division, Les Vipond, said: 'Coxswain Johnston showed leadership, courage and determination when the lifeboat launched in extreme weather conditions and minimum of depth.'The members of the lifeboat crew, second coxswain/mechanic James Tarvit, acting assistant mechanic Dougal Colin, and crew members John Buchan, John Purves and Robert Aitchison have all been awarded Vellum Service Certificates.

Eyemouth harbour had been closed to shipping by bad weather for two days when, at 1049 on 16 October 1992, Forth coastguard first told the lifeboat station that the Tyne Pilot launch Norman Forster had broken down in a NNE Force 8 to 9 gale and needed immediate assistance.

Conditions at Eyemouth at the time could hardly have been worse. There was less than an hour before low water at spring tides, giving only 4ft of water in the entrance channel, and 40 knots of wind and the river Eye in full spate were combining to create a 3ft sea in the lower reaches of the infamous 'Canyon', the narrow harbour entrance.

However the coxswain believed that the lifeboat could get to sea provided no time was lost, and so at 1106 the 44ft Waveney class Eric Seal (Civil Service No 36) left her berth and headed seaward.

The deepest water lay right alongsidethe training bank, on the lifeboat's starboard side as she left the harbour, and Coxswain John Johnston kept her just 2ft from the wall to find sufficient depth.

Creeping gently out of the Canyon he was able to increase speed a little and time his arrival at the pier head with the passage of the last of a regular pattern of larger seas.

The Waveney now began to feel the effect of the swell and she touched the sand a couple of times before breaking free of the harbour, and then took a number of large seas aboard as she increased speed to meet the swell and the full force of the wind, heading to the north along the leading marks indicating the deepest water.The coxswain eased the lifeboat seaward until he was able to alter course towards the casualty which she reached at approximately 1138, some 30 minutes after launching. The 50ft vessel was lying across the 20ft seas and swell in a NNE wind of around 40 knotsand visibility was only about a quarter of a mile in the numerous sleet squalls.

The lifeboat crew passed a heaving line, and as the Waveney steamed slowly into wind and sea two crew members paid out a towline from the casualty's violently pitching and rolling foredeck until it could be made fast aboard the lifeboat.

Although the pilot boat was now safely in tow another problem faced the coxswain.

Re-entering Eyemouth was obviously impossible in the conditions, so he discussed with the Coastguard the chances of seeking refuge in nearby Torness Harbour. However entry would be very difficult with an unpowered boat in tow so Coxswain Johnston accepted that he would have to tow the casualty further north and west, into the shelter of the Firth of Forth.

It was not until 1505 that lifeboat and tow reached the nearest safe haven, inside the Firth at Port Seaton. There the casualty was secured, and after a little well-earned rest the crew took Eric Seal back to sea again at 1600, heading for her home station.

Although some heavy seas were encountered the passage was uneventful - until the deputylaunching authority at Eyemouth reported that the harbour entrance was still impassable due to the wind and sea conditions.

The Waveney had no choice but to pass her home port and seek refuge in Burnmouth, further to the south and sheltered from the NNE wind.

At 1845 Coxswain Johnstone made a skilled entry and the lifeboat was made fast for the night. The following morning, in moderating conditions, the lifeboat left Burnmouth at 0745 and arrived home at 0830..