Rough conditions for Brighton's Atlantic Ashort but difficult service by Brighton's Atlantic 75 last December has earned two of her crew the Institution's Thanks on Vellum. Prompt action, good seamanship, a brave swim in rough water and excellent teamwork all played their part in the recovery of a man from the water near the marina breakwater.

M VetUm Some of Brighton's crew were at the station for their weekly exercise on 7 December 1997, carrying out shore-based training, when they saw the yacht Dragonfly, returning from the local club's regular race, broach in the confused water just inside the entrance.

Narrowly avoiding the breakwater she eventually grounded on a lee shore in the fork of two short arms (see photo) in full view of the lifeboat station and just 200 yards away.

With the wind SSW Force 6 the crew decided to self-launch to her aid and, after some effort, she was freed and made her own way into the marina.

Helmsman Mark Smith had three other crew members with him in view of the local nature of the job and the help the extra hands provided in passing a tow. With the rest of the club's fleet still at sea, he decided to stay afloat in case there were any further incidents and to land one of the crew on the South Quay to overlook an area which cannot be seen from the lifeboat station.

However, as they approached the quay some onlookers shouted to them that a man had just been washed overboard from a yacht, later identified at Xanadu, on the seaward side of the high wall.

Helmsman Smith quickly took the lifeboat round the breakwater, where he could see the casualty in a bright orange jacket floating less than 25ft off the wall and being regularly submerged by waves up to 25ft high, some of which were breaking.

Running east along the troughs of the waves, Mark Smith planned to throw a line to the casualty and pull him clear, for although the concrete blocks which form the wall dissipate the swell and prevent a backwash, they also make it difficult to judge just how close the lifeboat can approach.

The line fell well within the reach of the casualty, but he made no attempt to grab it and was obviously not able to help himself. By now he was only some 15ft from the wall.

The lifeboat had to square up to the seas to face some breakers and accelerate clear for a moment, swinging round to starboard again when it was safe to go back in.

With the casualty so close to the wall a normal upwind approach was impossible, so the lifeboat came in level with the man and Mark Hayes jumped in next to him with a line attached to a quoit round his arm.

As the lifeboat motored slowly away from the wall the two crew pulled the men alongside the sponson although, as the lifeboat was stood almost on end by a breaker, they momentarily lost their grip at one point.

Eventually the lifeboat managed to get about 50 yards of searoom and, with the help of the helmsman, the man was brought aboard and the Atlantic headed back to the station.

The casualty stopped breathing and also appeared to arrest but one of the crew, Berenice McCall, is a Sister at the local Accident and Emergency hospital and by the time the lifeboat reached the station at 1034 he was breathing again.

The crew continued their treatment in the ambulance until the casualty reached hospital, but sadly their efforts were ultimately in vain as he died the following day.

1 1 > . • lifeboat Atlantic 75 B709 The crew Thanks on Vellum Helmsman Mark Smith Crew member Mark Hayes Chairman's Letter of Appreciation Crew members Berenice McCall Antony Parsons.