Three snatched to safety in atrocious weather conditions Coxswain Ron Cannon of Ramsgate lifeboat has been awarded the RNLI's Silver Medal for bravery, with Emergency Mechanic Timothy Hurst and Crew Member Lance Oram receiving Thanks on Vellum, for the rescue of three crew from a dismasted yacht aground on the treacherous Goodwin Sands in atrocious conditions on 9 November 1999.Both Ramsgate's all-weather and inshore lifeboats launched to go to the aid of the yacht, Rasmus, which was aground on Goodwin Knoll amid Force 7 gales and very rough seas. Coxswain Cannon and his crew not only rescued the three people aboard - one with head injuries - but returned to tow the disabled yacht which was posing a threat to other shipping.

At 2002 on 9 November 1999 Falrnouth Coastguard received an alert, which told them that the 61ft yacht Rasmus was aground on Goodwin Knoll, some four miles south east of Ramsgate.

Shortly after, Dover Coastguard received a Mayday from the yacht. Subsequently a merchant ship, a RN warship and two 999 calls reported red flares in the vicinity of the Goodwin Sands. Dover Coastguard requested the launch of the Ramsgate lifeboat. Pagers and' maroons assembled both the inshore and all-weather lifeboat crews.

The weather was cloudy, with a northerly Force 7 wind, good visibility and a rough sea which had built up over a few days of windy weather.

Sea swell was approximately 2 metres in the harbour, increasing to approximately 3 metres atthe casualty. The wind was causing spindrift on the top of the waves and it was dark.

Conditions Coxswain Cannon, knowing the area where the casualty was reported, advised the launch of both the all-weather Trent class lifeboat and the Atlantic 21 inshore lifeboat. Weather conditions exceeded the operational limits of the ILB, but due to the shallow water near the casualty, a shallow draughted vessel was required to assist. Coxswain Cannon briefed the helmsman of the ILB, Lance Oram, prior to launch, to remain with the ALB at all times due to the strong winds and rough sea state.' The lifeboats launched at 2025. As they left Ramsgate harbour a red parachute flare was sighted confirming the position of the casualty as near the North Goodwin Buoy.

When the lifeboats reached this position no vessels could be detected at close range due to sea clutter on the radar. However, from the upper steering position of the ALB, a faint light could be seen intermittently amongst waves near Goodwin Knoll sands. Parachute flares and searchlights were used and with the aid of the night vision sight, the faint light was confirmed as the yacht's cabin light.

The casualty was approximately half a mile east of the lifeboats and was periodically covered by waves. The yacht could be seen to be upright with the mast folded onto its deck and hanging over the starboard side into the water. It was being buffeted violently by the waves and there was no sign of anyone aboard. The main concern at this stage was the severe risk of it capsizing - anyone on board needed to be located immediately.

Dangerous The direct route to the casualty was half a mile east, but would leave the lifeboats on a lee shore, up wind and up tide of the casualty. This would not only be a very dangerous position but would also render the lifeboats useless if the casualty was bounced by the waves off the Sands to the south. Using his extensive local knowledge and experience. Coxswain Cannon decided to track south along the western edge of the Goodwin Knoll until the water was deep enoughto cross into the deeper channel within the horseshoe shaped sandbank. This would enable the lifeboats to make an approach to the casualty, bow into the surf and to the leeward edge of the sands and yet still be able to reach the yacht should she be washed off to the south.

Coxswain Cannon took the lifeboats south.

None of the sandbanks were visible making progress treacherous, as swell and spray hid the dangers below. During this passage, visual contact with the casualty was maintained using searchlights and parachute flares, The Goodwin Sands move daily with each tide and as a result are poorly charted. Due to this constant change, Coxswain Cannon regularly exercises the lifeboats around them and has gained vital knowledge of this unforgiving area. Having made his way south Coxswain Cannon altered course to the east and cautiously made his way across the sandbank.

The ALB grounded several times but Coxswain Cannon was aware of the lifeboats' capabilities and could not afford any more time spent travelling further south into deeper water. The casualty was barely visible at this stage as it was swamped by waves. Having crossed the sandbank both lifeboats entered the slightly deeper channel, which was over 13ft deep and still treacherous.

Major concern At 2045 both lifeboats approached the yacht. It could be seen being bounced violently onto the seabed by the waves. The risk of severe damage or possible capsize was still a major concern. Still no persons had been seen aboard and there was a strong possibility of the yacht's crew having been swept overboard. A thorough lookout was maintained to avoid passing any casualties in the water. The yacht's mast had broken some 10 feet above the deck, it was lying across the steering position and entering the water - the opposite side from the approaching lifeboat.

The yacht's boom was swinging violently over the port rail and rigging was strewn overboard. Her fore sail was also hanging over the port side in the water. There was severe damage to the upper deck and the breaking waves and debris made the area more hazardous.

Coxswain Cannon manoeuvred the ALB close to the yacht's port side in order to assess its condition and search for survivors. The noise of the waves colliding with the yacht was intense, rendering communications near impossible on deck. Crew Member Tim Hurst boarded the yacht taking wire cutters and an axe with him. Coxswain Cannon manoeuvred onto the port side, keeping clear of the rigging and debris in the water.

With the ALB held onto the yacht and bouncing violently, Tim Hurst scrambled aboard at an opportune moment. Meanwhile, the ILB was also manoeuvred alongside and Lance Gram scrambled aboard, handing over the helm to Wayne Goldfinch.

With two crew members aboard the yacht, both lifeboats eased away and stood off at close range whilst illuminating the area with searchlights.

Survivor Tim made his way to the cabin hatch with Lance close behind, both clearing debris as best they could. Once at the hatch, Tim attempted to open it whilst at the same time a female survivor from within pushed it open, not knowing that the lifeboat crew were on deck. She attempted to push her way out of the cabin but was restrained in order to prevent injury from the swinging boom and mast.

Whilst Coxswain Cannon brought the lifeboat back in towards the yacht, Tim and Lance lifted the woman out of the cabin and moved her towards the ALB. They placed her hands into the hands of the crew members on the lifeboat's deck, who pulled her towards the lifeboat. During this critical transfer, the ALB was buffeted away from the yacht by several large waves leaving the female hanging between the two boats, but the crew of the ALB, still holding her, pulled her over the guardrail to safety. She was taken into the survivor's cabin where she was treated for severe shock.

Coxswain Cannon decided on an alternative approach to the casualty because of the difficulties in holding the lifeboat alongside. Using the astern propulsion he took the lifeboat stern first into the yacht, despite the dangers of fouling the propellers with the dangling rigging. Meanwhile Tim and Lance had plucked a second survivor, helpless with shock, from the cabin and forcibly passed him to the crew on the lifeboat's deck, who lifted him over the guardrail.

Injuries The third survivor was found to have head injuries and was trapped by debris. Once freed he was lifted out of the cabin and physically passed to the crew on the lifeboat's deck. Tim and Lance were then pulled back onto the ALB. Coxswain Cannon took the lifeboat a safe distance from the yacht while the casualties were looked after. As they were all in need of urgent medical attention, particularly the elderly man with head injuries, he decided to abandon any attempt to save the yacht and made best speed to Ramsgate. The lifeboats landed the survivors at 2102.

Both lifeboats re-launched later and, after some difficult manoeuvring, successfully secured a line and towed in the yacht which, if it had floated off the Sands, would have posed a serious collision threat to other vessels unable to detect it in the severe sea state.Trent class 14-02 Esme Anderson KwCrew Coxswain/Mechanic Ron Cannon Emergency Mechanic timothy Hurst Crew Member Lance Oram Medal Service Certificate Crew Members: Alan Bray Ian Cannon Christopher Andrews Raymond Noble James Barth Brett Pocock Wayne Goldfinch.