Three fishermen saved with just minutes to spare A;L long service in a severe gale and heavy, broken seas has earned Achill Island's Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic, Brian Patten, the RNLI's Silver Medal. The remainder of the crew will receive framed Chairman's Letters of Appreciation and Silver Medal Service Certificates.

With seas constantly sweeping the lifeboat and casualty Coxswain Patten had taken the Arun alongside a 75ft fishing vessel, passed a tow line and snatched her to safety just minutes before she would have drifted ashore on an isolated rock off the Irish coast.Conditions were so bad at the scene, with 47- knot winds and two tidal streams converging off a rocky headland that the lifeboats engine bilge was flooded and toe rails and stanchions smashed by the sheer weight of water. The crew were thrown to the deck by the waves as they broke over the lifeboat and yet were still able to pass a tow no less than three times.

The lifeboat's involvement began at 0430 on Saturday 27 February when the MRSC at Malin Head notified the station's honorary secretary that the fishing vessel Carrigeen Bayhad suffered engine failure off Achill Head. At that time she was just 3 miles offshore, drifting down onto the rock-strewn headland in the severe west-southwest gale.

The Lifeboat Arun class 52-10 Soldian The Crew Silver Medal Coxn /Asst Mech Brian Patten Chairman's Letter Medal Service Certificate Mechanic Stephen McNulty Crew Members Thomas Kilbane John Johnston Raymond McKenna Liam Fallon Edward CorriganThe location is one avoided by local people as two strong tidal streams meet off the headland, causing irregular breaking seas.

That night those seas were being heaped up into 8m high breakers by the severe gale force winds.

The Arun, Soldian, launched at 0450 and began the 14 mile passage to the casualty. Uppermost in the crews' minds was the proximity of Carrigeen Bay to the rocks at Carrickakin of the tip of Achill Head and her rate of drift towards them.

Coxswain Patten pushed Soldian through the darkness as hard as he dared - the 7m seas on the port bow giving the crew a very rough ride as the Arun pitched and rolled at maximum speed.

Approaching the casualty's position the crew could see nothing in the pitch dark, and the radar screen was picking up only wave 'clutter' -which was hardly surprising with seas 7-8m high and the radar scanner less than 6m above sea level.

Flare Radio communication was finally established, and the skipper of the fishing boat was asked to fire a white parachute flare so that the lifeboat could locate her. The flare was whipped away so quickly by the gale force wind that it was of no help, so the final approach through the mountainous seas and complete black-out had to be made using the lifeboats VHP radio direction finder.

With no engines the casualty was rapidly running out of electrical power, and her final radio transmission was to the effect there was only sufficient power left to illuminate the wheelhouse.

Fortunately during the conversations the lifeboat crew had learned that Carrigeen Bay had some large tyres on board and the skipper had been asked to rig one on a bridle at the bow of the casualty. The stretch in this large tyre would help to reduce the 'snubbing' or snatching which would threaten the tow line as the strain was taken up in the big seas.

When Soldian reached the casualty at Island station Carrigeen Bay repaired arrived 10000530 she was a mere 600 yards from the rocks of Carrickakin, with a recently arrived Irish Air Corps helicopter hovering overhead and illuminating the scene.

Carrigeen Bay had attempted to anchor, but the anchor was dragging and she was still being swept ashore with wind and sea on her starboard quarter.

It was soon obvious that it would be impossible to transfer the three crew safely on to the lifeboat so Coxswain Patten decided that the only option was to tow the fishing vessel clear of danger.

Two tidal streams were meeting off the headland and the conditions had worsened still further.

Violent seas up to 8m high were now sweeping both lifeboat and casualty, and would do so for the next hour.

Heaving line Brian Patten took Soldian to the north of the casualty and approached her from the leeward side, easing up to her port quarter with crew members John Johnston and Tommy Kilbane clinging to the starboard rail at the bow ready to pass a line.

John Johnston managed to land a heaving line on Camgeen Bay's aft deck at the first attempt, but the casualty's crew could not retrieve it. Liam Fallen threw another and this time the line was passed successfully. This was no mean achievement as the lifeboat crew were repeatedly being knocked to the deck by the seas breaking over the top of the wheelhouse.

As the casualty's crew took the line towards the bow Brian Patten eased SoW/analong her leeward side until she lay just forward of the fishing vessel and head to wind.

With the tow line attached to the large tyre the next problem was releasing the casualty from her anchor cable. She had no power to veer or cut the cable so Soldian took the strain and applied sufficient power to break the cable. Only then could the full scope of the tow be paid out -with the crew again exposed on the aft deck - and the slow tow away from danger started.

Later calculations showed that Camgeen Bay/was probably some eight minutes away from being swept ashore.

Five minutes after taking up the tow a huge sea hit the lifeboat and fishing vessel, breaking the tow line. The sea was so big that it forced a considerable amount of water into the lifeboat's engine room through the ventilator and also smashed the starboard toe rail and guard rail stanchions.

Both vessels were still only 600 yards from the vicious lee shore as the crew returned to the aft deck to repeat the tow line manoeuvre.

Despite the darkness the crew could see the waves breaking against the rocks of Carickakin - when they were not themselves under water.

With exceptional seamanship Brian Platten brought Soldian around in a repeat of the earlier manoeuvre and then held her in position for an agonising five minutes while Camgeen Bay's crew secured the line.

Low water With the tow re-established the long tow home began at about 5 knots. Good progress was made, despite the terrible conditions, until at 0825 the tow parted again. For the third time Coxswain Patten managed to pass a tow line without the two vessels coming into contact and the tow resumed.

With low water approaching and seas already breaking heavily on the bar it would not be possible to enter A chill Sound, so the lifeboat took Camgeen Bay up into the shelter of Clare island, they arrived at 1000, intending to wait for more water.

However while waiting for the tide the casualty's engineer received enough information via his mobile phone to effect repairs and the fishing vessel was able to reach Cloghmore pier under her own power, escorted by the lifeboat.Two inshore lifeboats save man cut off by tide A service by Redcar's Atlantic 21 and D class to a man cut off by the / x t i d e some five miles away from the station has earned Atlantic Crew member Tony Wild, D class helmsman Mark Greaves and D class Crew Member Derek Robinson a framed letter of appreciation from the RNLI's Chairman.

The Atlantic had been launched at 1506 on 30 May 1999 into a northeasterly Force 4 and seas which increased from 3ft at the launch site to 6ft to 9ft at the scene. The D followed two minutes later.

It took only ten minutes for the faster Atlantic to reach the man where she tried to anchor and veer down to the casualty. However the waves and undertow made it difficult to hold station, so Crew Member Tony Wild swam ashore with a line -with some difficulty. The stranded man was a non-swimmer and refused to swim to the lifeboat, despite the urgency of the situation.

By now the D class had arrived and it was decided she would try to beach. However as she tried to ride in on the back of a wave she struck a rock, slewed round and filled. Helmsman Mark Greaves recovered the situation and he and Crew Member Derek Robinson jumped out to hold The casualty was taken aboard and a number of attempts made to get off the beach.

Derek Robinson was swept off his feet several times and once the boat was swept high and dry, despite the efforts of the three lifeboatmen.

Eventually the D class made it out to sea, slightly damaging her propeller in the process, to rendezvous with the Atlantic, which had in the meantime been dealing with her own problems.

While attempting to recover the line it had fouled the port propeller, stopping the engine, and while this was being freed the starboard engine struck a rock and also stalled. Fortunately it restarted immediately and the port engine was also freed.

The casualty was transferred to the Atlantic - shaken but uninjured -and was landed at Redcar at 1610, with the D class returning some five minutes later.

The Chairman's letter remarks that '..this was a well-executed service carried out in difficult conditions'.Two saved from yacht in onshore severe gale Aservice by Shoreham's Tyne class lifeboat in June 1999 has earned her coxswain Peter Huxtable the Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum.

The service was carried out in onshore winds which were gusting up to Force 9 - conditions which prevented the nearer Brighton lifeboat - an Atlantic - from putting to sea.

It was at 2052 on 2 June 1999 that Solent Coastguard contacted Shoreham. A 34ft yacht, Trimley Maid, was unsure of her position somewhere off Brighton Marina in poor weather conditions.Although Brighton was much closer the south westerly wind was onshore and gusting to Force 9 with one-and-a-half knots of Spring ebb running against it. The seas were up to 6m high and the conditions were far in excess of those specified for Atlantics.

Once clear of Shoreham harbour entrance the station'sTyne, HermioneLadyColwyn,setcourse to the east, with a big quartering sea making life difficult as Coxswain Peter Huxtable kept the Tyne on course as she rolled and yawed constantly.

While on passage the lifeboat crew tried to locate the yacht by VHP DF and by eye, finally finding her about a mile-and-a-quarter to the south east of Brighton Marina - further out to sea than initially thought.

The lifeboat arrived at 2127 to find sea conditions continuing to deteriorate, partly because of the reflected waves from the Marina walls. The yacht was trying to make ground to windward to stay clear of the lee shore but was making little progress.

The Lifeboat Tyne 47-040 Harm/one Lady Colwyn The Crew Thanks on Vellum Coxswain Peter Huxtable Vellum Service Certificates 2nd Coxswain Peter Lowe Mechanic Mark Blatcher Asst Mech Michael Fox Emerg Mech Simon Tugwell Crew Member Charles Hubbardyacht The two crew were elderly and reluctant to leave the security of the cockpit to attach a tow so it was decided to escort the casualty into the marina.

However 20 minutes later it was obvious that the plan was not going to work, as the yacht's auxiliary engine and small jib were insufficient to enable her to make ground to windward.

Coxswain Huxtable was concerned about the casualty's crew in the atrocious conditions at night and considered the options. To stand off and wait for the weather to improve would probably exhaust the yacht's crew, so the only workable option was to take her in tow.

Line To avoid transferring a crew member, with the associated dangers, the Tyne was positioned upwind and astern of the casualty and a close pass made to throw a heaving line. This was successful at the first attempt and the slow tow to windward began.

At one point the yacht was completely knocked down by a wave, but although Coxswain Huxtable had to go astern to avoid towing the yacht under the tow line held.

By 2226 lifeboat and casualty were at the entrance to the marina - where conditions could only be described as atrocious. Waves were reflecting off both sides of the entrance forming what is known as a 'clapotic' wave train which can easily cause vessels to broach - with the almost inevitable result being a collision with the piers or grounding on the spending beach inside the entrance.

Shortening up the tow line Coxswain Huxtable managed to negotiate the hazardous entrance and enter the inner marina.

Brighton's Atlanticand another RIB owned by Station Mechanic Richard Pearce were standing by inside the marina - where conditions were still fairly bad - and because of the limited space and the windage of the larger Tyne it was decided to hand the tow over to the Atlantic so that she could berth the yacht while the Tyne headed back out to sea.

She was only able to make about 9 knots into the seas, arriving home at 2322.Special Vellunn for Doctor's services in severe conditions Aspecial Doctor's Thanks on Vellum has been awarded to Doctor Peter Fay of Kirkwall for his outstanding courage and determination following a service by Kirkwall's Severn class lifeboat Margaret Foster.

Dr Fay volunteered to go aboard the lifeboat in a Force 9 Severe Gale, even though he had never been to sea on one before.

Lifeboat A crew member aboard the rig support vessel Stream Truck had been taken ill with a suspected heart attack, when the vessel was some 17 miles to the north east of the lifeboat station, and Pentland MRSC had asked that the lifeboat be launched at 2100.

Coxswain Geoffrey Gardens took the Severn, Margaret Foster, to sea at 2121 with her full crew and also Dr Fay from the local medical practice, who had volunteered to go out even though he had never been on a lifeboat before.

His first trip was to prove something of a baptism of fire, as once the Severn cleared the shelter of the harbour she was soon exposed to the full force of the weather - a south easterly Severe Gale Force 9 which was producing seas some 35ft high.

As the lifeboat made her way at best speed towards the vessel the impact from one wave was so severe that the laser plotter stopped working, although it was re-started a short while afterwards.

At 2246 the lifeboat reached the casualty, but conditions here were so bad that it was impossible to transfer the Doctor.

Coxswain Gardens decided to escort Stream Truck to Deer Sound, where enough shelter was found to get the doctor aboard, accompanied by Crew member Robert Hall. The manoeuvre was carried out without too much difficulty - the lifeboat coming alongside the casualty's leeward side at about eight knots and pressing her port shoulder against the vessel with the aid of the bow thruster.

Doctor Fay had been seasick since leaving Kirkwall, and was still suffering badly, but once aboard the casualty he immediately set up his equipment and, with medical supplies from the casualty and the lifeboat and help from Crew Member Robert Hall, stabilised the patient's condition.

Shelter Even in Deer Sound the conditions were too rough to transfer the patient, so more medical supplies were transferred aboard and the lifeboat escorted Stream Truck to Kirkwall, acting as her pilot through the tricky inshore waters and passing pilotage instructions by radio.

Once in the shelter of Kirkwall Bay the patient could finally be taken aboard the lifeboat and landed at the lifeboat's berth in Kirkwall, from where he was taken to hospital by ambulance.

Dr Fay was awarded his special Doctors Vellum for his outstanding determination and professionalism, and Crew Member Robert Hall has also received a letter of appreciation from the RNLI's director.The Lifeboat Severn 17-13 Margaret Foster The Awards Special Doctor's Vellum Dr Peter Fay Director's Letter of Appreciation Crew Member Robert HallAll-weather lifeboat coxswain swims to the aid of casualty during service by the inshore lifeboat Swimmer saved by lifeboat Coxswain n a remarkable service at Cromer Richard Davies, Coxswain of the station's all-weather lifeboat, has been awarded the RNLI's Thanks Inscribed on Vellum and the three man crew of the inshore D class lifeboat have received Vellum Service Certificates.

What makes the service remarkable is that Coxswain Davies was aboard neither of Cromer's lifeboats at the time.

* M The Lifeboat D class D436 Chios The Awards Thanks on Vellum Coxswain Richard Davies Vellum Service Certificates Helmsman Adrian woods Crew Members Martin Steward Adam Lincoln But to begin at the beginning. It was at 2148 on Saturday 2 October that the station's Honorary Secretary, Chris Barnes, heard from Yarmouth Coastguard that two people had been seen in the water to the east of Cromer Pier. They were about 150 yards out from the beach and some 250 yards from the inshore lifeboat house. The CG asked for one of Cromer's lifeboats to be launched -with the station choosing which they thought was more suitable.

Chris Barnes spoke to Richard Davies and, although it was dark and the D class has very limited night capability, it was decided to launch her because the casualties were very close inshore.

Tidal Stream Ten minutes later the D class was at sea, manned by Senior helmsman Adrian Woods and Crew Members Martin Steward and Adam Lincoln.

The wind was a moderate southwesterly Force 3 to 4 with a half-metre swell and good visibility but a strong 2-knot spring tidal stream was sweeping to the east.

Chris Barnes and Richard Davies made their way to the beach, where the casualties were reported to be, to help coordinate the rescue.

As they arrived they saw one man being helped by two volunteer St John's ambulance members. However to seaward they could see the second man still in the water about 150 yards away and being swept to the east by the tide.

Chris Barnes went back to his car to fetch a portable floodlight which he intended to use to indicate the casualty to the D class, but when he returned he could see the man in the water being dragged under and calling for help. By now it was clear he was in grave and imminent danger.

Without any regard for his own safety Coxswain Davies acted immediately. Stripping off some of his clothes he plunged into the sea and swam across the tidal stream towards the casualty. Initially the man was uptide of a sea defence groyne but as Coxswain Davies swam out the casualty was set down-tide and passed the seaward end of the groyne.

Altering his course to intercept the man Richard Davies was able to make contact about 20 yards downtide of the groyne, grab his clothing and start to tow him back uptide to the groyne.

Remarkable After a remarkable swim Coxswain Davies reached the groyne and was able to use it to support both him and the casualty while waiting for the lifeboat to arrive.

Meanwhile aboard the lifeboat Adrian Woods was not aware that Coxswain Davies was in the water. He had an approximate idea of the where the casualties had been, but was finding it hard to locate them exactly because of the back scatter from the lights on Cromer Pier.

As he approached he heard a voice calling for help over the noise of the outboard engine, and homing in on the voice he was somewhat surprised to see Coxswain Davies on the groyne supporting the second man.

Shaping a course towards them he soon took them aboard the lifeboat and headed for the beach as quickly as possible.

The casualty was taken straight to a waiting ambulance where he was assessed by the station's Honorary Medical Adviser and then taken to hospital.

He suffered a brief respiratory failure en route but fortunately responded rapidly to resuscitation.

Hypothermia Meanwhile Coxswain Davies had begun to suffer from mild hypothermia, but after being examined by the doctor he declined treatment and was taken home to warm up. He suffered no ill-effects from his unexpected Winter swim.

The inshore lifeboat returned to her station at 2206 and was ready for service again just ten minutes later and only 28 minutes after putting to sea.

In that short time she had taken part in a service which undoubtedly saved a man's life..