Two saved from yacht in onshore severe galeAservice 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 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.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 Hubbard.