D class inflatable saves two from lee shore in near gale Helmsman Alan Attrill of Bembridge inshore lifeboat has been accorded the RNLFs Thanks on Vellum following the rescue last August of three people from a yacht aground on Bembridge Ledge in darkness, rough seas and neargale Force 7 winds.Alan Attrill was praised in the official report of the rescue for his 'skill and excellent seamanship' after he had taken the 16ft inflatable lifeboat through breaking seas into shallow rock-strewn water to allow the survivors to scramble aboard the lifeboat. The report of the incident by Colin Williams, deputy inspector of lifeboats for the south division, concluded: This rescue was carried out in very rough conditions on a lee shore in total darkness.

Helmsman Attrill's extensive local knowledge of the Bembridge Ledge rocks allowed the inshore lifeboat to be used to best advantage.' For their part in the rescue, the lifeboat's other two crew members, Geoffrey Attrill and Graeme White are to be presented with Vellum Service Certificates.

During the evening of 11 August 1993 the 30ft yacht Bari with three people aboard was on passage from France to the Eastern Solent when she grounded on the Bembridge Ledge, half-a-mile south of Bembridge lifeboat station. Ban's crew reported to Solent Coastguard by radio that she had been holed and was taking water.

A SSW Force 7 wind was creating a rough sea on the ledge, and the tide was beginning to rise.The yacht's navigation lights could be seen from the lifeboat station and it was obvious that the all-weather Tyne class lifeboat could not reach the yacht among the rocks of Bembridge Ledge, so it was decided to take off the yacht's crew with the 16ft D class inshore lifeboat - with the crew of the all-weather lifeboat at immediate readiness to launch.

At 2311 the inshore lifeboat was launched under the command of helmsman Alan Attrill, assisted by crew members Geoffrey Attrill and Graeme White and headed for the casualty at the best speed possible in the roughening conditions, with the lifeboat crew's visibility hindered by constant spray over the bow.

Helmsman Attrill took a route which kept well clear of the broken water and rough seas on the ledge and, on approaching the scene asked the coastguard ashore to train their searchlight on the yacht so that they could make her out in the darkness and spray.

The yacht was stern to the seas in anarea of white water on the ledge, and Helmsman Attrill was anxious to take off the crew as quickly as possible as the rising tide would allow the wind to drive the yacht further onto the ledge.

The yacht's crew were told by radio that the lifeboat could only make one attempt to get alongside, as the helmsman was worried that the yacht might be thrown into the lifeboat.

In readiness for the actual approach the searchlight ashore was switched off, to avoid dazzling the lifeboat crew and, with the yacht's navigation lights in sight, at 2332 her crew radioed that they were ready to come off.

There was approximately 1m of water on the ledge near the yacht, with a moderate swell and a confused sea created by the Force 7 SSW wind meeting the tide.

The sky was heavily overcast, and in the darkness the helmsman had difficulty seeing approaching breaking seas at the edge of the ledge.

When all was ready the lifeboat entered the surf heading towards the yacht's position, some 150m onto the ledge, but while the lifeboat was approaching the yacht's navigation lights went out and the final approach had to be made in total darkness.

With some difficulty the lifeboat's port side was placed alongside the yacht's starboard side and, again with some difficulty, crew member Geoffrey Attrill held her there while the three yachtsmen clambered into the lifeboat. Once they were safely aboard, Helmsman Attrill manoeuvred the D class astern from the shallow water and then turned the lifeboat head-to-sea to break clear the surf before she could be turned north, running before the sea back towards the lifeboat station. Passage was made safely back to the all-weather lifeboat's slipway where the three survivors were landed at 2338.

The yacht was subsequently swept further onto the ledge and sank some 300m from where she had originally grounded..