Breezy conditions lead to six calls in one day for Plymouth's Arun Plymouth's Arun class lifeboat City of Plymouth was kept extremely busy on 9 August 1994 when she received no less than six calls - launching first at 0048 and finally returning to her mooring at 1855! The eventful day began with Brixham Coastguard contacting the station at 0035 with news of a 29ft yacht, Blue Star, experiencing difficulties some 25 miles to the south east of the station.

Launching at 0048 the Arun made good speed to the casualty despite heading into an easterly wind which increased from Force 5 to 6 at the mooring to Severe Gale Force 9 at the casualty. Arriving at the casualty at 0155 the lifeboat found the commercial vessel Bell Pioneer standing by and providing a lee until the lifeboat's arrival. Here the wind, a rough sea and a 3m to 4m swell made conditions difficult for the lifeboat, which had to be manoeuvred alongside twice, once to put two crew members aboard and then to connect a tow. The yacht's man and wife crew - described as of 'mature years' - were exhausted by the conditions and so the lifeboat crew made the tow secure and the Arun began the long tow back.

Conditions were such that over 45° of leeway were being allowed for at one point and the speed over the ground was less than 2 knots.

Finally lifeboat and tow arrived back at Plymouth, the casualty was taken to Sutton Harbour and the Arun was back on her mooring at 0735.

...again Less than two hours after the lifeboat had been refuelled Brixham Coastguard called again, at 0945. The French yacht Avocette 2 with seven people aboard had been dismasted eight miles to the westsouth- west. It took City of Plymouth just 11 minutes to get under way again and in moderating conditions she arrived on scene in just over half an hour.

A fishing vessel had the yacht in tow, but her spars and sails were still overboard.

Launching the Y boat three lifeboat crew members boarded the yacht and, working with the three male crew from the yacht, cleared away the rig in about an hour despite the still-difficult conditions - a SW Force 4 and a swell 1 m to 2m high.

The casualty was then brought into a marina in Plymouth and the lifeboat crew had barely finished helping the crew put the remains of the rig ashore than the Coastguard called again.

This time the casualty was a yacht called Islay Mist, on fire four miles to the south-south-west but as the lifeboat neared the scene the single-handed sailor reported that he had extinguished the blaze, was being towed by another yacht and that the situation was under control.

He had received slight burns but did not need medical attention.

Meanwhile, during the approach to Islay Mist the lifeboat crew had spotted the three occupants of a small motor boat waving at them. She was in no immediate danger so the lifeboat continued to Islay Mist, returning as soon as she was released. She found the vessel proceeding with difficulty with a jury rudder rigged to replace the broken original.

The jury rudder was not able to cope in the conditions, a SE Force 5, moderate sea and swell up to 2m high, so the Arun took her in tow and delivered her to the marina.

Tow...

But that was far from the end of City of Plymouth's day.

The yacht towing Islay Mist to safety now reported that assistance would be needed in berthing her tow so the lifeboat took over, put a crew member aboard the casualty and berthed her safely at 1629.

Just one minute later Brixham Coastguard called again - the lifeboat was needed in nearby Jennycliffe Bay where the son of the skipper of the yacht Lady Llamedos had received a head injury. The Arun was alongside the yacht in less than ten minutes, took the casualty aboard and transferred him ashore to be met by an ambulance.

This time the lifeboat made it back to her moorings, making fast at 1745 and being refuelled and ready for service again by 1750.

However, that service was to come sooner than anyone expected - the next call from Brixham Coastguard arrivedthree minutes later! This time it was a fast motor cruiser called Amie with eight people aboard which had run out of fuel for her main engine two miles to the south-south-west. Amie did have an auxiliary engine but with the SE wind now back up to Force 5 to 6 again she could not make headway in the conditions.

It took just 10 minutes for the lifeboat to reach Amie, to find her under tow by another yacht and with a MoD police launch standing by. Taking over the tow City of Plymouth took the casualty back to Mayflower Marina where, in suitable shelter, she was able to made the fuelling berth under her own auxiliary power.

Peace...

At long last the lifeboat made her way back to her berth, making fast at 1855 and being declared ready for service again by 1915.

No doubt to the relief of her crew City of Plymouth was then allowed a little peace - no less than 18 hours after her first call of the day! Submitting the large sheaf of service returns to headquarters at Poole Paul Willerton, the station honary secretary, concluded:'.. .Although none of the services were life-threatening the skill and endurance of the crew were well tested and worthy of note.' A masterpiece of understatement!.