Three rescued after yacht is rolled in storm force winds A trocious weather conditions greeted Courtmacsherry Harbour's Trent class lifeboat when she put to sea on Saturday 24 October, headed for a yacht which had been capsized and dismasted 20 miles from the station. The service which followed won Second Coxswain Dan O'Dwyer the RNLI's Bronze Medal and letters of thanks from the Institution's Chairman for the rest of the crew.

A deep depression passing to the north had brought Storm Force winds to the southern Irish coast, whipping up seas more than 30ft high. As they set out in total darkness at around 2000 Second Coxswain Dan O'Dwyer and his crew were well aware of the conditions they would meet, as they had been out on exercise earlier that day.

The casualty was the 42ft ketch Supertaff with three people aboard - owners Neil and Mandy Chapman and their cousin Danny - which had been the victim of a cruel chain of events.

Depression Supertaff had been five days into an extended cruise, heading for Madeira, when Danny's seasickness became so severe that the decision was taken to head towards the Irish coast and wait for quieter weather. Approaching the coast conditions had been fair, and although a depression was forecast to track through later there seemed plenty of time to reach Kinsale safely.

About 13 miles from the coast conditions had deteriorated rapidly, and the well-found Supertaff was hove-to to wait for the weather to moderate.

Despite the 80 to 90-knot winds conditions aboard were relatively comfortable and her crew spent the time playing board games and making hot drinks.

Twenty-four hours later, at around 1700 on Saturday 23 October, there was a tremendous bang and Supenaffwas rolled through 360° - both masts were carried away and the cabin windows stove-in on one side, allowing a considerable amount of water in to the boat.

All three people on board were thrown about as the yacht rolled over, and Danny suffered cuts while Mandy was thought to have broken her arm.

With the masts gone Supertaff had no main VHP aerial, although Neil put out a Mayday call on a handheld set while they bailed and tried to make the yacht as safe as possible.

Mayday Because of the limited range of the hand-held radio no-one heard the Mayday. However some three hours later lights appeared on the horizon and Supenaff's second Mayday was picked up by the approaching vessel -the Spanish oil tanker Sevantes.

Sevantes was able to relay the message to Cork radio, and although the large ship was unable to offer any direct assistance in the huge seas she stood by the yacht until help arrived.

Courtmacsherry Harbour lifeboat crew was paged at 1955 and the station's Trent Frederick Storey Cockburn put to sea shortly afterwards. Conditions were deceptive in the harbour, which was in the lee of the land, but even here the wind was touching 70 knots and strong enough to make even boarding the lifeboat difficult.

Once under way the crew, who had already been out on exercise earlier, strapped themselves in for the passage, knowing just how rough it was likely to be.

Once clear of the lee of the land the massive beam seas made holding the lifeboat's southerly course very tricky, but Dan O'Dwyer managed to maintain 21 knots despite the severe motion. The whole crew was greatly impressed by their lifeboat's performance in these extreme conditions.

By 2022 the lifeboat had 15 miles left to run, and was in radio contact with Sevantes, and by 2105 she was at the scene.

Mandy Chapman aboard Supertaff was impressed. They said the lifeboat was due at about 2105,' she said later, 'and dead on 2105 she arrived!' A helicopter from Shannon arrived at almost the same time and, while hovering in 70 knots of wind, reported that the yacht's masts and rigging were lying in the water on her port side.

Liferaft This rigging was acting as a drogue, and Supertaff was lying with her bow to the northeast, with an inflated liferaft secured to her starboard side next to the cockpit.

The lifeboat eased in from the south-east, but it soon became obvious that it would not be possible to go alongside the casualty, which was being thrown around and buffeted by seas more than 35ft high.

Mandy Chapman's arm was believed to be broken at this time, so Coxswain O'Dwyer asked the helicopter to see whether she could be lifted directly from the yacht or the liferaft.

The helicopter hovered over Supenaff three times, but the aircrew decided that it would not be safe to try to lift anyone in the severe sea conditions.

They added that they thought it would also be too dangerous to try to put a lifeboat crew member aboard the yacht.

The only option left for the transfer of the survivors was to use their liferaft, so Coxswain O'Dwyer brought the lifeboat in towards Supertaff's starboard, downwind, quarter.

Evacuation With the Trent's bow almost touching the yacht a heaving line was thrown across to the yacht's cockpit and the Trent backed quickly away to hold station about 20m to leeward. She was held there for some ten minutes while it was attached to the liferaft and the three people readied themselves for the evacuation. Two crew members were needed on the lifeboat's foredeck, constantly tending the line to prevent it from snatching as the two vessels ranged up and down in the huge seas.

By 2149 everything was ready and the three survivors boarded the liferaft-with some difficulty - and cut the line securing it to the yacht.

The lifeboat had eased in closer, and as the painter securing the raft to the casualty was cut the liferaft blew clear of the yacht and was swiftly brought alongside the lifeboat.

Within five minutes of leaving Supertaff all three survivors were safely in the Trent's wheelhouse and being tended by the crew.

Although two of them were suffering badly from seasickness and all three were exhausted Mandy's arm was not broken and they were declared fit enough to travel back to Courtmacsherry by lifeboat.

The helicopter, which had remained nearby, then headed home.

At 2200 the lifeboat headed for Courtmacsherry, still in heavy beam seas but with a slightly moderating wind and was safely alongside by 2326.

Supertaff continued to drift but was salvaged by a trawler 60 miles to the north-east near Helvick Head two days later. Neil and Mandy Chapman are now refitting her and hope to continue their cruise of a lifetime later this Summer.

Neil has been a member of the RNLI's Offshore scheme since July 1997, and following his ordeal he said '/ never thought I'd need the help of a lifeboat crew. / believe all responsible sailors should show their support of the RNLI by becomingan Offshore member.' 7 must praise the crew in the highest degree for their professionalism, and for the way they calmly looked after us in what was a horrendous situation' Neil Chapman The lifeboat: Trent Class 14-07 Frederick Storey Cockburn The crew: Bronze Medal 2nd Coxn Daniel O'Dwyer Chairman's letter of thanks Asst Mech Colin Bateman Crew members Michael Cox Patrick Lawton Alan Locke Brian O'Donovan Michael O'Donovan Fishermen saved by inshore lifeboat When four anglers slipped into a rough sea near Newcastle Co Down it took the combined efforts of the station's D class inshore lifeboat and its Mersey class all-weather boat to snatch them to safety.

The D class was working close inshore in a heavy ground swell, and the skill and judgement of her helmsman, John Lowery, earned him the RNLI's Thanks on Vellum.

It was just before 1800 on Sunday 16 August when head launcher Peter Heaver saw an anxious couple park outside the nearby Coastguard station. They were looking for help for four anglers who were in the water about half-a-mile to the south at a place known as Maggy's Leap.

He ran across to the station to phone the Coastguard, who had just received a 999 call about the incident and, as the pagers were set off, set about readying first the D class and then the Mersey.

Helmsman John Lowery and crew member Brendan Rooney were nearby and arrived very quickly. They paused briefly at the bottom of the slip with the boat in the water hoping that an extra crew member would arrive.

With people in the water there was no time to spare and when Frances Morgan, the Coxswain of the Mersey arrived, it was decided to head for the scene with only two people aboard.

It took only minutes to reach Maggy's Leap where the lifeboat crew found five people in the water - Ian Williamson, another angler, having gone into the water to help when he realised that the four casualties were in trouble.

A group of people had gathered about 10ft above the men in the water, who were clinging to garden hoses which had been lowered to them.

The wind was Force 6 to 7, and although it was off the land the seas were confused at the base of the rocky shore. The waves were being refracted around the headland and combined with the backwash from the shore were creating a nasty 6ft sea.

John Lowery knew the area well and was aware of a submerged rock nearby, so he approached carefully from the north-east, passing to the south of the rock.

The casualties were being buffeted against the sloping rocks and were now in two groups. Helmsman Lowery decided that the group of three would be easiest to approach at the first attempt and quickly put the inf latable's starboard side alongside the rocks near to the group, making sure that the lifeboat could not crush them against the shore.

One man was supporting himself, and another was being supported by the third.

With the lifeboat bouncing against the rocks in the confused sea the fittest man was brought in and put up forward, and the second, who was injured, was brought in over the quarter.

The third man, Ian Williamson, crawled in over the transom. He was dressed in a survival suit and had gone into the water to help the others.

All the while the lifeboat was being buffeted, heeling sharply to port as the sea receded to leave the starboard side high on the rocks. The engine skeg touched the rocks but the outboard was in neutral and kept running.

John Lowery now had a difficult decision.

There were five people in the D class, two of them in a poor condition, and two more people in the water nearby.

The Mersey had arrived by now and was standing off about 100 yards away, to avoid adding her wake to the confused seas. It would have been dangerous to attempt to pick up the remaining people so Helmsman Lowery decided to transfer the casualties to the all-weather boat - moving away towards it to cries of indignation from the helpers on the cliff top.

Within a few moments she was alongside, the casualties transferred and, in response to a call from John Lowery for a third crew member. Mark Poland had joined the D class crew from the Mersey.

One of the men was on the verge of unconsciousness and, with the station so close, Coxswain Morgan decided to take the Mersey back immediately for medical help.

The inflatable quickly moved back to the shore, where the remaining two men were in a hollow under an overhanging rock. Putting her bow into a crevice between them Helmsman Lowery was able to hold the inflatable in position while one man was brought aboard each side. The motion was still severe, but with the lifeboat's stern now facing the seas she was a little easier to manoeuvre.

Once the remaining casualties were aboard the lifeboat was able to ease astern away from the shore, but could not avoid the submerged rock this time. The engine struck the obstruction, damaging the skeg and propeller, but continued to run.

Hypothermia It was 1820 when the D class started for home, the two crew members attending the casualties. They were both suffering from hypothermia and abrasions and one had a severe, bleeding head wound.

Ashore, the lifeboat station had become a casualty treatment area with crew members, station officials and Coastguards helping two Doctors and an intensive care nurse - all of whom had been in the area and volunteered to help.

At 1838 an ambulance arrived, and a few minutes later a helicopter landed just outside the town. Eventually all five casualties were safely on their way to hospital, two who were severely hypothermic to Belfast by helicopter and the remaining three to a local hospital by ambulance.

A replacement engine was delivered to the station that evening, but despite the punishment meted out to the D class as she was pounded against the rocks she suffered surprisingly little damage - there were some abrasions to the hull and the VHP radio aerial had been damaged as the second man had been pulled aboard.

'All the while the lifeboat was being buffetted, heeling sharply to port as the sea receded to leave the starboard side high on the rocks' The lifeboat: D class D430 (Relief lifeboat) The crew: Thanks on Vellum Helmsman John Lowery Chairman's letter of thanks Crew member Brendan Rooney Crew Member Mark Poland Ian Williamson Simon Cooke, a member of Torbay lifeboat crew, unearths an unusual explanation for an unusual service...

Lifeboat crews up and down the coast spend many hours searching for people reported missing , but not many get called out to look for a missing ghost! At 1749 on New Year's Day this year Brixham Coastguard activated Torbay Lifeboat crews' pagers after two anglers reported seeing an elderly lady staring out to see near Goodrington Beach, Paignton.

The anglers spotted her as they were preparing their tackle, and when they next looked in her direction she had literally vanished into thin air. They thought they could see something floating in the water, so they alerted the Coastguard on their mobile phone and a major search sprang into action.

Torbay'sall-weatherand inshore lifeboats sped to the scene and were soon joined by the Portlandbased helicopter Whisky Bravo as well as numerous shore-based Coastguard and Police teams. Despite a thorough search of the area no traces of the woman were found and the search was eventually called off.

Now some light has been shed on the mystery thanks to John Wallis, a Goodrington resident and proprietor of a local electrical shop.

John is convinced that the anglers had seen the apparition of 'Sister Mary', as she has been dubbed, a French nun who worked at a hospital tending soldiers from the Napoleonic wars.

The buildings that now form the 'Inn on the Quay, a popular tourist pub on the seaf ront at Goodrington, used to serve as a hospital for servicemen during the Napoleonic wars. Two French nuns worked there until it closed in 1817 and when they died their remains were buried in a cemetery in the hospital grounds. Eventually the land was developed and the graves were relocated to another part of town - and ever since sightings of 'Sister Mary' have been reported.

John reckons she comes to this part of the seawall to gaze across the sea to her home - or perhaps to look for her old grave amongst the trappings of tourism.

This isn't the first time this lady has been spotted,' John said, 'one of my neighbours had a very similar experience one night. He spotted a lone elderly woman staring out to sea - and when he looked again she had vanished into the night air.' As for Torbay lifeboat crew they remain ready to any calls for assistance - whether from this side of the hereafter or the other. But perhaps the next time they launch to the report of a missing woman in the area ectoplasmic meters and spectral gauges would prove more useful than the usual nightsights and searchlights! Whitstable's Atlantic capsizes on service to f[shing )gats The dangers facing lifeboat crews were cgraphically illustrated at Whitstable on Sunday 3 January 1999 when the station's Atlantic was capsized by a breaking sea soon after launching.

Helmsman Mike Judge and Crew Members Paul Kemp and Andy Williams had launched at 1330 to go to the aid of some angling dinghies when the capsize happened.

The waves generated by the Force 9 onshore wind were steep and short and the Atlantic had difficulty building up enough speed to deal with them. She punched through a few before being hit by a particularly large sea which lifted the bow so high that the crew soon realised that she would not come back down upright. Mike Judge said later: 'One minute we were ten feet up in the air and the next we were three or four feet underwater.' Unfortunately the lifeboat was so close to shore that although the crew activated the righting bag there was not enough sea room to right her properly and she - and the crew - were washed up on the beach.

All of the crew were unhurt and damage was relatively minor, although the lifeboat was withdrawn immediately and a relief boat was on the way to the station within hours.

The dinghies were escorted to safety by Sheerness's all-weather lifeboat and a helicopter some half-an-hour later.

The whole incident had been captured on video and featured in several news broadcasts.

IHigh speed tow fortrimaran At first glance there doesn't seem anything unusual about the top photo aboard a fast-moving trimaran (right) - but the second shot shows that her nineknot speed is down to an Atlantic on the other end of the tow line! Beaumaris' lifeboat crew were able to make good speed on their homeward trip as the casualty they had in tow was light, fast and could be towed safely at a fair speed. The trimaran, Star, had been on passage from Fleetwood to Burnham-on-Sea in Somerset last August when she was beset by headwinds and found herself in a strong adverse tide with an extremely fatigued crew and a failed engine.

Beaumaris lifeboat launched just after 1430, towed the trimaran to Menai Bridge for repairs and then took her crew back to the station.

Star's crew were very appreciative of the crew's help, the professional delivery skipper remarking that he had 'never seen a better or more competent display of seamanship'..