The Lifeboat Tyne class 47-026 Garstde The Crew Vellum Coxswain Malcolm Gray for his 'tenacity, determination and seamanship... Any miscalculation could have resulted in the lifeboat being beached or grounded on the rocks or even capsized.' Veto Servce Certificates Crew Members: Michael Phillips, Clive Hayes, Jeffrey Thompson, Paul Taylor. Robin Copley and dndy Pearce Chief of Operations ' Letter of Thanks Honorary Secretary Jeffrey Davies for his commitment in staying in the boathouse throughout the serviceSIn a long and arduous service in breaking waves in the middle of the night on Christmas Eve 1999, Coxswain Malcolm Gray used the experience he gained in a 20-year career working on tugs, to assist the 1500-ton tanker Blackfriars.

She had been anchored in St Brides Bay when the anchor cable parted and she was swept ashore on Musselwhite Sands.

The St Davids Tyne class lifeboat, Garside was launched at 0026 and the crew found the Blackfriars half an hour later. She was lying across the beach and was lucky not to have been carried onto the rocks.

An RAF helicopter evacuated three of the crew, leaving the tanker's master and three others aboard to try to salvage her.

The south-westerly wind had increased from Force 7 to Gale Force 8-9, with a swell of 3-4rn.

After standing by. waiting for a tug for nearly two hours, Coxswain Gray noticed that with the flooding tide the tanker was being bounced further up the beach.

Difficult Realising that it would be extremely difficult to refloat the Blackfriars if she was allowed to remain aground at high water, as they were at the peak of spring tides, he asked the master if he could attempt to connect a tow.

The lifeboat crew could not use a speed line because of the risk of setting off a gas explosion, so the coxwain was forced to enter the surf to pass a heaving line to the stern of the tanker.

Operating in less than 2m of water, Crew Members Jeffrey Thompson and Paul Taylor were up in the bow, with Taylor holding onto HtackfriarsThompson while the latter threw the line. The first throw missed.

The second attempt succeeded and Coxswain Gray went astern just as the first of three large waves broke over the deck of the lifeboat before the power could take effect.

She powered astern through the next two waves and, once clear of the beach, the coxswain turned the lifeboat into the sea and transferred the lines to the stern.

The lifeboat continued to pull on the stern of the tanker for the next hour, using 400m of tow lines. The wind and tide continually set the boat towards the cliffs 200m away and Coxswain Gray was forced to reposition several times Unsure At 0344 the Blackfriars transferred the tow to her bow and. at 0420, Coxswain Gray succeeded in pulling her off the beach. The tanker managed to start her engines but the master was unsure how much damage had been done, so they left the tow rigged and kept the tanker heading into the wind while staying in the lee of the land.

The Angle lifeboat, Owen and Anne Aisher, arrived at about 0500 and circled the tanker for signs of pollution. Although the Blackfriars was in ballast she still carried around 18,000 litres of gas fuel oil but there were no obvious leaks.

The area is especially sensitive to pollution risks following the Sea Empress incident and the delay in getting a tug to respond to the Blackfriars has since caused concern.

It was 0815 before a tug was able to take over and the two lifeboats could return to station. By 0931 the St Davids lifeboat was once again ready for service.Conditions at operational limits Thanks on Vellum awarded to New Brighton coxswain Anight-time rescue in atrocious conditions on the River Mersey led to thanks from the RNLI for the helmsman, crew and shorehelpers of the New Brighton lifeboat stationRough and confused seas of up to 3m, standing and breaking waves and a wind of nearly 50 knots created conditions at the very limit of the Atlantic 75 lifeboat's operational capabilities.

It was after midnight on Christmas morning when the Coastguard reported that two young men had been swept into the water at Victoria Slip, New Brighton.

Unable to launch at the normal site, Helmsman Michael Jones and his three-man crew went afloat at the more sheltered Fort Slipway.

Searchlights Half a mile away, outside the Chelsea 2000 nightclub on the New Brighton Promenade, RNLI inch site Net recovery site Beaching site 47 knot iiuls shorehelpers, coastguards, police and members of the public lit up the river with car lights, torches and searchlights.

One of the casualties, who had gone to the aid of his friend, was bought safety ashore while the lifeboat motored northwards through waves as high as 5m, checking possible sightings by shore personnel.

These turned out to be various pieces of debris such as lifebuoys, bags, tyres, and tree trunks.

At 0120 the crew found the second casualty, submerged but attached to a lifebuoy. Although there was no sign of life they continued to attempt resuscitation until they beached in 2m waves at Egremont South Slip and handed him to waiting paramedics.

Sadly, he was pronounced dead on arrival in hospital.

Damage To prevent damage to the lifeboat Helmsman Jones decided to refloat her until a suitable site was available for net recovery. Meanwhile, Hoylake's all-weather lifeboat arrived and stood by while New Brighton's lifeboat was recovered using the net at Egremont North Slipway. By 0235, less than two hours after the initial alert, she was back on station and ready for service.

Hoylake's lifeboat returned safely to her station through the worst conditions some of her crew had ever encountered.The Lifeboat Atlantic 75 B721 Rock Light The Crew Thanks on Vellum Helmsman Michael Jones, tor his boathandlmg, seamanship and leadership Chgifrnan's Letter_of Thanks Crew Members: Barry Shitlinglaw. Paul Wright and Howard Jones for their courage and determination.

Director's Letter of Appreciation Shorehelpers: Neil Jones.

Nigel Jones, Christopher Henderson. Ian Thornton.

Simon Bowers. Paul Mountfietd, Mark Harding and Anthony Clare for their contribution to the search in adverse weather conditions.

Chief of Operations Letter of Appreciation Station Honorary Secretary Frank Brereton and Hoylake lifeboat s Coxswain and crew for their contribution and support.Team Philips is towed to safety Pete Goss' attempt to break the Jules Verne record for the fastest non-stop circumnavigation hit a stumbling block during sea trials on 29 March when his catamaran. Team Philips, lost part of her www.t«»mphilip».com profile launch.

St. Mary's lifeboat was alerted just before 090O when the Team Philips crew noticed problems some 26 miles off the Isles of Scilly. When the lifeboat arrived on scene, the port side bow started to fail and, later, broke away. The Severn class lifeboat. The White/leads, was requested to take the damaged bow section in tow to relieve drag on the catamaran as she limped back to St. Mary's.It later became apparent that, due to wind direction, tide and proximity to the islands, towing Team Philips would be the best option.

Following some skilful manoeuvring _ _ ancTSDme difficulties passing a line in the strong winds, the catamaran was taken under tow. Progress was slow so, at 1300, the lifeboat coxswain repositioned the tow, which helped increase speed.

Team Philips finally reached safety some seven hours later whereupon the lifeboat and Royal Navy helicopter.

Rescue 193, transferred three divers and equipment to the casualty.

The official launch date for the record attempt is 3.1 QecembeiTso Pete Goss right-Ms"currently fundraisiny for repairs - with a percentage of the cash-going to lifeboat coffers as way of thanks.

For further information see • R the Team Philips website at Photos: © Rick TomlinsonInjured seaman rescued Eastbourne lifeboat was alerted on 3 March 2000 when a boat worker, aboard a cargo vessel bound for Equador, was forced to head inland for emergency surgery in a bid to save his fingers.

The Polish worker was involved in an accident aboard the UB Prince when she was some 15 miles from Beachy Head, en route from Bremerhaven in Germany. Because of the considerable swell, the ship lurched from side to side causing a water-tight steel door to swing shut on the casualty's hand, trapping his fingers.

Eastbourne's Mersey class lifeboat, The Royal Thames, arranged a rendezvous point with the captain of the UB Prince and came alongside to pick up the injured crewman. However, the lifeboat was rising on swells and taking water on deck so it was decided to reposition to give extra lee. Following this manoeuvre, the casualty was strapped into a harness and was carefully lowered down and snatched onto the lifeboat.

The casualty was taken into the lifeboat wheelhouse where he was treated by the lifeboat honorary medical advisor, who put his arm in a sling and kept a watchful eye until he was landed and transferred to an ambulance.

The extent of the patients injuries were deemed serious enough to warrant immediate referral to the specialist burns and plastic surgery unit at east Grinstead.Medical assistance required on 10 March Dover lifeboat was requested to launch to a injured crewman aboard a Dutch cargo vessel lying off Dover.

The Severn class lifeboat, City of London II, launched immediately and located the vessel one mile off Dover.

The injured crewman was lying between cargo in the hold of the vessel with a broken leg and suspected spinal injuries. Lifeboat crew members were put aboard with a stretcher and were lowered into the hold using the ship's crane.

The casualty was made comfortable with Entonox (a mix of anaesthetic and oxygen) and blankets, then carefully moved to the stretcher and strapped in. The casualty and crew were then transferred to the lifeboat by crane.

The lifeboat returned to Dover where the injured man was transferred to ambulance and taken to hospital for treatment.

Captain White, Dover station honorary secretary later remarked that the service had been an excellent 'text book' medical evacuation.Canine calamity! Filey's inshore lifeboat was called out in March this year to help rescue a dog that was cut off by the tide and stranded on rocks.Coastguards had previously climbed down 60m of cliff to reach the poor pooch but could not get near it. Because of the swell it was too risky for the lifeboat to land anyone near the dog but the crew stood by in case anybody (or any doggie) was washed off the rocks by the incoming tide. After an hour of trying to get to the dog, it was decided to leave him where he was as the tide would soon recede.

However, as the ILB was rehousing at the station, the dog was washed off the rocks. The lifeboat relaunched and, guided by Coastguards from the top of the cliff, located the dog and picked him up from the water - he was exhausted and would not have lasted much longer. The dog, named Sire, was landed into the care of a vet and reunited with his owner the next day when it was discovered that he had been missing for 12 days and had wandered 15 miles! The picture shows Assistant Mechanic Peter Macauley holding Sire with Second Coxswain Mechanic Barry Robson and Crew Members Paul Colling, Gary Mason and Mark Johnson..