Crew member swims to stranded yachtWells' Mersey class lifeboat Doris M. Mann of Ampthill was called to the aid of a 28ft yacht which was stranded on Blakeney Point on 31 July 1993, rescuing the yacht the two adults and two children on board at the time.

The lifeboat had been launched at 1734 and reached the scene some 20 minutes later to find the yacht aground on a sandbar in a Force 5 wind and taking water.

A helicopter had also been alerted, but while attempting to pass a tow line it becamebecame entangled around its tail wheel, forcing it to land on the beach. With the yacht well aground crew member Robert Smith then attempted to swim a line to her, managing to reach the casualty only to have the line swept away while trying to board her.

Coxswain Graham Walker then decided to fire a Speedline across the yacht, a manoeuvre which finally succeeded in putting the tow aboard at 1849. Crew member Smith was still aboard the yacht and was able to make it fast, enabling the lifeboat to ease the casualty back into deeper water.

The yacht was then towed into the safety of Blakeney Harbour, where she was put on a mooring at 1921, before the lifeboat returned to Wells at 2003 for re-housing. She was ready for service again by 2050.Swimmers rescued from surf-swept pier supports The Chief of Operations has written to congratulate crew member Steven Tester of Littlehampton's Atlantic 21 Blue Peter I following the rescue of two swimmers on 16 July 1993.

The Atlantic had been launched at 2051 following a report that two swimmers were in difficulties on the West Pier and arrived in the area six minutes later.

A man and a young girl were clinging to the sloping supports in a heavy surf,exhausted and being lacerated by the barnacles.

A first attempt to put the lifeboat between the supports was abandoned because of fears of damage and she stood off while crew member Tester swam in through the surf to retrieve first the girl and then the man. Both were exhausted and suffering from hypothermia and lacerations and were landed at the station for first aid before being taken to hospital. Blue Peter I then returned to the scene to check that no-one else was in difficulty, and was then called out to search for the source of red flares. Nothing was found and she was finally stood down at 2136.

•This service was featured on BBC TV's'Blue Peter' programme, when the girl - 13-year-old Abigail Martin - recounted her experiences as part of the programme's appeal to fund six Blue Peter lifeboats.European Co-operation The Ijmuiden lifeboat Christ/en was visiting Lowestoft on 17 October when the Coastguard reported a fishing vessel broken down a few hundred yards off the harbour mouth.

As Christian's crew were already aboard, ready to leave for home, they willingly obliged with a tow. Could this be a first - a Dutch lifeboat performing a service out of a British port?Floods hit Scottish caravan site Aberdeen's D class inshore lifeboat was towed more than eight miles behind the helmsman's car when a flash flood burst the banks of the River Dee and water up to 1 Oft deep engulfed a park containing nearly 100 caravans and chalets.

At 0300 on 8 October the Grampian Fire Brigade contacted the station for help and in less than an hour the lifeboat crew had transported the inflatable to the site and began searching for three people believed trapped and for three firefighters who had previously waded out and been cut off.

The missing people were found inside their caravans, with the firefighters marooned on top of nearby caravans, and eventually taken to safety. Navigation was extremely difficult in the dark, partly due to the current flowing through the park and partly because of underwater obstructions including fences, shrubs, barbed wire and submerged cars. The lifeboat in fact grounded on several parked cars during the service.

On its next foray the lifeboat located an American in a chalet and was about to take him to safety when he expressed concern about a lone female in a nearby chalet. She was found, but would not leave without her two badly scared cats or allow anyone else to take care of them. The firefighter aboard the lifeboat said that his service had strong bags for this kind of work and so the lifeboat set out to land the American and fetch the bags.

However at this point fears were expressed for the safety of an elderly man with his leg in plaster who lived in an isolated caravan half-a-mile outside the caravan park. With the American acting as a guide the ILB located the caravan and the crew made her fast to a fence while they waded the rest of the way. They found the man and his dog lying on a partially submerged mattress, very cold, wet and shivering but had to break a window to get to him.

Having landed the survivors and the dog the ILB went back for the lady and her cats, and after quick refreshements the crew were asked to check every caravan and chalet. They did so in conjunction with a police inflatable, finding two more cats - one on a settee floating in about 3ft of water- and returning them to their owners.

It was daylight by now and at 0740 the crew set about ensuring that all gas cylinders were turned off, frequently wading among the floating cylinders and at one point making the lifeboat fast to a submerged JCB. Having also discovered a wild rabbit marooned on a fence and rescued that, they then took a representative of the gas company to turn off the supply to a large gas tank which was floating and attached only by its supply pipe. The lifeboat crew were then able to load their boat onto a fire brigade lorry to return home.

However there was more work to do - and the crew were recalled to help the police inflatable with the evacuation of three more people - including a pregnant lady and a small baby - then to retrieve the large gas tank which was now in danger of being swept into the swollen river, and finally to retrieve a makeshift raft which had sunk on passage to dry land.

It was not until 1250 that the crew were finally stood down - nearly nine hours after their arrival - and were finally able to re-load the inflatable on the lorry and return to station.The speedboat Hot Banana lived up to her name on 6 July when a fire, believed to have started in the outboard engine, spread to the fuel tank and caused a major explosion.

The boat burst into flames at the entrance to Christchurch harbour and the nearby Mudeford lifeboat was at the scene within minutes and went as close as possible to see whether anyone was still aboard. The three occupants had, however, had a very lucky escape and managed to get ashore.

The lifeboat stood by as two fire appliances doused the flames, although the boat was a total loss.LIFEBOAT'S PROPELLERS DAMAGED ON ROCKS C class takes off two survivors before fishing boat breaks up Helmsman Ian McDowell of the St Bees lifeboat has been awarded the Institution's Bronze Medal for the leadership, skill and courage he displayed during a service to a fishing vessel aground in surf.

The Thanks of the Institution on Vellum has been awarded to the others aboard during the service: Helmsman Alistair Graham, and crew members Marcus Clarkson and Paul McDowell.At 0718 on Saturday 31 July 1993 St Bees lifeboat station was told by Liverpool Coastguard that the fishing vessel Cower de Lion was aground in Fleswick Bay off St Bees Head with two people aboard. The C class lifeboat was launched at 0725 with Alistair Graham at the helm and Helmsman Ian McDowell and the two crew members aboard. A Westerly Force 5-6 was causing a 6ft dumping surf which extended some 200 yards offshore, and the lifeboat was hit by several large waves which threw her into the air before she was clear.

At 0733 the casualty was sighted on the edge of the surf in Fleswick Bay, and the inflatable moved in to about a quarter-ofa- mile to seaward of her. Cower de Lion was aground on an outcrop of rocks 35-40 yards offshore, listing heavily to starboard and almost beam-on to the waves. Heavy seas were breaking on to her decks and two men were hanging on in the bow.

The seas were some 8ft high and approaching from seaward would be extremely difficult, so Graham made his approach between the shore and the casualty's stern. Clarkson and Paul McDowell were about to put a line aboard when a large wave hit the casualty, passing over her and pushing the lifeboat away.

Damaged Out of the lee of the casualty the lifeboat was beam-on to the seas, but Helmsman Graham instinctively turned the lifeboat to starboard to come head-tosea and try to power out of danger. Waves were filling the lifeboat and it became apparent that the engines must have been damaged on rocks, as there was insufficient power to get further to seaward.

Unable to power clear of danger McDowell decided to beach the lifeboat.

As soon as the water became shallow enough the engines were stopped - the movement was too violent to lift them - and all four crew jumped out and at-tempted to hold her head-to-sea and manhandle her ashore.

Ian McDowell tried to raise the engines while the other crew members tried to hold her steady in the breaking waves and during the struggle Graham fell over a rock and the boat fell on top of him, trapping his leg. He managed to struggle free and although pushed under a second time was pulled clear.

Beached Paul McDowell was washed under the boat at one point and Ian McDowell found himself trapped between the engines and a large rock. They managed to free themselves and the engines were eventually lifted and the boat beached on the shingle 40 yards south of the casualty.

Marcus Clarkson and Paul McDowell started to change the propellers while Ian McDowell tied a length of line around his waist and walked into the surf. With Alistair Graham holding the shore end McDowell managed to get close enough to shout to the survivors that the lifeboat would be coming and to keep holding on.

With new propellers fitted the lifeboat was dragged through the surf, fuel oil and debris to a position opposite the casualty, where Ian McDowell and MarcusClarkson climbed back aboard. Paul McDowell and Graham held the boat steady as the engines were lowered and started but it was felt safer to leave them behind rather than risk trying to board in the dumping surf. Waiting for the right moment the lifeboat powered away from the beach towards the casualty, striking numerous rocks as she fought to get clear.

Approaching the casualty McDowell nudged the lifeboat's bow onto the fishing boat's port side and Clarkson made a line fast. After much encouragement one of the survivors jumped, but another large wave struck and the lifeboat was again pushed clear, parting the line.

Clarkson reacted quickly. Grabbing the helm he drove the bow back onto the casualty and the second survivor threw himself onto the lifeboat's canopy before McDowell got underway, passing around the stern of the fishing boat and directly into the sea. The time was now 0815, and shortly after the lifeboat left the fishing boat started to break up.

Impossible The inflatable had again suffered damage to her propellers and was underpowered, with one engine over-revving.

The engine was stopped, and as it was now impossible to return for the other two crew members slow progress was made back to station, where the lifeboat was recovered at 0830.

The survivors were suffering from mild hypothermia and were close to exhaustion.

They were given warm drinks and clothing while waiting for an ambulance.

A helicopter retrieved the two crew members from Flenswick Bay and when Alistair Graham arrived back at St Bees he could hardly walk from the pain in his legs. He had suffered extensive and painful bruising.

Both of the lifeboat's propellers had been damaged, one having lost all its blades, the skegs had broken off and the gear boxes were damaged. Temporary repairs were carried out and the lifeboat was on restricted service again at 1000.

Summing up his report Guy Flatten, the divisional inspector for the North Division said: 'That the fishing boat broke up shortly after the shocked, cold and exhausted survivors had been taken off demonstrates how perilous the operation was. These men would certainly have perished had not the lifeboat managed to reach them just in time.'ONSHORE GALE INTO ROCK-STREWN COVE Survivor snatched from yacht seconds before she sinks A service in very difficult weather conditions, carried out in full view of hundreds of local people and holiday-makers on the shore, has earned Barry Bennett, the coxswain of St Mary's Arun class lifeboat, the Institution's Bronze Medal. The service took place in heavy, breaking seas which were sweeping into a rock-strewn bay in which there wasvery little room to manoeuvre.

Crew members Andrew Brown, Philip Roberts, Joseph Fender, Stephen Hicks and Andrew Ho wells have received medal service certificates for their parts in the rescue.

It was at 1645 on Sunday 12 September 1993 that the station honorary secretary heard that two yachts were at anchor in Forth Cressa Bay in worsening weather conditions, and that neither could be raised on the radio.

Forth Cressa bay is a recognised anchorage in offshore winds but the wind was ESE - into the small, shallow bay - and up to Severe Gale Force 9. A ground swell some 5m high was running, with a nasty breaking sea on top.

The yachts were in the worst possible anchorage in the conditions, which could only deteriorate as low water approached.

The SHS contacted the coxswain and informed Falmouth Coastguard, asking them to activate the crews' pagers.

Exposed By 1721 the station's Arun class lifeboat Robert Edgar was under way and leaving the shelter of St Mary's Roads for the short passage round to the exposed side of the island.

Forth Cressa Bay is open to the SE and very rocky, with an entrance just over a cable (approximately 200m) wide. Entering the bay the lifeboat came across the yacht Aurea which had cut her anchor warp and was attempting to head into deeper water. The assistant mechanic could not raise the yacht on VHP but managed to pass a message by loud hailer that the coxswain would provide a lee until the yacht was clear of the bay. The lone Frenchman aboard understood and the lifeboat escorted the yacht clear and saw her on her course for St Mary's.

The coxswain then took the lifeboat back into the bay and approached the 25ft Folkboat Bacarole which was still at anchor.

A man was sheltering in the stern, unwilling, it was learned later, to open thecabin doors in the terrible conditions.

During a lull the coxswain decided to pull the yacht clear into deeper water, but the yacht was at anchor well into the bay, inside the breakers and in very shallow water. She was lying across the sea and with an inflatable tender secured astern.

The lifeboat had only just over a metre of water under her keel in the troughs between the waves.

The coxswain backed down onto the casualty and after several attempts a heaving line was passed which the lone crew of the yacht made fast. Before the lifeboat crew could tell him to pull the heaving line in and take the tow line secured to it the coxswain had to manoeuvre the lifeboat over a set of large breaking seas, and the line parted.

The lifeboat was positioned so that another heaving line could be passed to Bacarole and the heavier tow line was being pulled in by the survivor when thecoxswain saw three large breaking seas bearing down on the lifeboat and yacht.

He broke through the waves safely, but the last one overwhelmed the yacht, knocked her flat and broke her mast. The assistant mechanic heard the mast break even though he was inside the wheelhouse with all the doors and hatches closed. The yacht evidently started taking water after her knock-down and began to settle in the water.

The coxswain ordered the line cut and told the crew that he was going to evacuate the survivor to the lifeboat. They went forward to prepare for the transfer, secured by their safety lines, and at times were up to their thighs in water as they waited for an opportunity to grab the survivor.

Abandoned The first approach was abandoned when the coxswain had to pull clear as breaking seas approached.

At the second attempt the coxswain put the port shoulder close to the yacht and as the lifeboat rolled to port in a heavy swell the survivor jumped. He was grabbed by the crew and only a minute later a series of breaking seas engulfed Bacarole and she sank.

The coxswain took the lifeboat back into deep water, and on her way back to the station she came upon the French yacht still making for shelter. Crew member Howells was put aboard her to help and she was escorted back to harbour.

Robert Edgar entered St Mary's harbour at 1800, landed the survivor, refuelled and was on her mooring ready for service again by 1825.

The survivor later said that he had not attempted to weigh anchor and motor clear of the bay as he considered that the small auxiliary engine would not have been man enough. His radio was down below and he was reluctant to unbatten the hatch and go below to answer calls..