Fishing vessel towed to safety in storm force winds Appledore and Ilfracombe lifeboats were both involved in a service to a fishing vessel near Bideford Bar on 31 March 1994. Coxswain Michael Bowden of Appledore lifeboat was awarded the Bronze Medal and Coxswain Andrew Putt of Ilfracombe the Thanks of the Institution on Vellum as a result of the service.In his report, the divisional inspector of lifeboats (south), Capt Hugh Fogarty, said: 'Coxswains Bowden and Putt carried out their service in extreme weather conditions on an inhospitable coast with shelter only available at certain states of the tide. Both men exhibited excellent seamanship. Despite horrendous conditions the tow was passed at the first attempt.' Swansea Coastguard had received a Mayday from the fishing vessel Torridge Warrior at 1054. She was near Bideford Bar Buoy and had lost one engine.

Appledore's coxswain was in the boathouse and monitored the 'Mayday' and, as three crew members were nearby in the boarding boat, the Tyne class lifeboat George Gibson was able to slip her moorings just 10 minutes after the call.

As soon as she cleared the lee of the land a very steep sea some 20ft high could be seen breaking heavily on Appledore Bar. Coxswain Bowden used the helm and throttles to make the quickest passage he could through the surf - the worst experienced in 30 years.

The casualty was on the edge of the surf, making very little headway with only one engine. Her wheelhouse windows had been stove in by the seas and she was shipping water.

The lifeboat approached the casualty's starboard quarter in a trough, and then turned head-to-sea to pass along her starboard side - passing the line at the first attempt as she did so. The casualty was quickly towed clear of the Bar, but it was obvious that they could not return to Appledore because of the conditions and the only option was to go to Ilfracombe.

A crewman could be seen on the casualty's deck, bleeding from a head wound, but communication with the casualty had been lost. A helicopter on the scene was able to lower a man with a VHP radio, but the crew refused to abandon.

Torridge Warrior appeared to be downby the head, but as she was unable to pump out the forward compartment the helicopter returned to shore to pick up a portable pump.

In the meantime Ilfracombe's lifeboat, the Mersey class Spirit of Derbyshire, had been launched as the seas off Morte Point, to windward of Ilfracombe, would be very heavy.

The wind had now increased to Storm Force 10 and, with a big following sea, coxswain Bowden was having difficulty preventing the casualty overtaking the lifeboat.

At 1240 the Ilfracombe lifeboat arrived and took up station on the casualty's port side. At 1330 Torridge Warrior's sampsonpost pulled out of the deck and whipped through the wheelhouse - destroying the instrument panel and controls and leaving her without any engine power.

The casualty had quarter posts to which a tow could be secured so Coxswain Putt moved in quickly and passed a line at the first attempt. The fishing boat was brought carefully round and Ilfracombe lifeboat took up the tow while Appledore stood by on her quarter.

By 1600 all three boats were off Ilfracombe, but could not enter as there was not enough water. It was inadvisable for Appledore to return to her station in the poor weather and darkness, so at 1900 all three entered harbour where Torridge Warrior and Appledore lifeboat berthed alongside and Ilfracombe lifeboat was rehoused..