The Lifeboat Relief Atlantic 75 (B705) The Vera Skilton The Crew Tfignks on Vellum Helmsman Wayne Martin for his 'boat handling skill.

judgement and leadership.' '...[he] handled the Atlantic 75 expertlv...' Chairman's fetter of Thanks Crew Members: Laurence Pascoe and Jeremy Griffiths Tractor Driver; Phillip Trebilcock Director's Letter of Thanks Leading Aircrewman Jason Bibby of RNAS Culdrose rescue helicopter 193Teamwork saves three surfers Thanks on Vellum awarded to Newquay helmsman A;ombined lifeboat and helicopter rescue in Force 8 winds saved the lives of three surfers in January - including a thirteen year old girl who was suffering from hypothermia and severe shock.Newquay's relief Atlantic 75 lifeboat, The Vera Skilton, was launched at 1332 on 22 January 2000 following an alert that three surfers were in difficulties off Crantock Beach, 2'/z nautical miles south of the station.

Weather conditions at the lifeboat launch site were very poor - Force 8 winds were whipping up surf over 3m high - so the lifeboat had to be taken 400m along the beach by tractor where she could be launched from her carriage in slightly less dangerous conditions. Excellent communication between Tractor Driver Phillip Trebilcock and Helmsman Wayne Martin ensured a safe launch and the lifeboat made good speed toward the casualties despite heavy breaking seas and other tidal hazards.

The lifeboat reached The Goose' rock 11 minutes later where two casualties were seen clinging to a surfboard 10ft from its east side.

Another casualty had been washed up on rocks at the base of Pentire Point East and had managed to climb clear of the waves. The Goose' rock provided a slight lee from the prevailing weather conditions but side wash from the 4m waves breaking around the rock caused very confused seas.

Fine seamanship was displayed by Helmsman Martin who managed to hold the lifeboat in Surfers pkki-d up h 11,11 in ihjs k-e h Nvw(|iia Atlantic 75 IM) - 22 .lanuun 2IKHI I'klnI slri-iim I knul 1 Sidt'HTKl I'.llk MUSH * «;««.- I V Rock, Rm-k i IMilirv 1'iihil l- Vuv i .unicuurd dlrvdtnu II l ( i , , i u , u . , h H t , . Mil '• f-nmlnrlt RriH'h position as the two surfers were recovered. This procedure was especially tricky as one casualty, a 13 year old girl, was suffering from deep shock and the initial stages of hypothermia and was unable to offer any help.

Once in the lifeboat. Crew Members Griffiths and Pascoe calmed the casualties and assessed their situation - meanwhile, Rescue Helicopter 193 (from RNAS Culdrose) had scrambled and plucked the third surfer to safety.

Helmsman Martin thought it hazardous to take the lifeboat back to station and attempt a recovery with the casualties aboard and, after considering other alternatives, it was decided safest to winch the casualties up to the helicopter.

Following a discussion with Rescue 193. the helicopter flew head to sea just to the south of The Goose' rock, with the lifeboat matching its course. After several minutes, conditions just allowed the transfer to the lifeboat of a diver, who placed the girl into the winching strop. As they were lifted clear, a wave hit the bow of the lifeboat, giving the diver and casualty a nasty blow to their legs but once both safely in the helicopter, the diver was again lowered to collect the male surfer.

Following four attempts and an incident where the diver was thrown very hard against the lifeboat's hull, the last casualty was recovered and the helicopter headed straight to Trelisk Hospital.

The service was far from over for the lifeboat crew as they had bumpy passage back to station and tricky recovery to contend with - but skill and teamwork gave a textbook finish to the operation.A mare story with a snappy ending! Racehorses rescued during floods AC rocodile making its way lazily down the hallway of a flooded home gave lifeboatman Kevin Keillor the shock of his life..

On 26 April 2000, Kevin and other members of the Dunbar crew went to Tilton House Stables, West Barnes, to help evacuate 12 racehorses, who were up to their stomachs in flood water when the Beil Burn burst its banks.

After the horses had been led to safety, the men went into the adjoining home of retired racehorse trainer, Tommy Craig and his wife, Annette, to help move their belongings upstairs as the water rose, causing serious damage to their property.

1 couldn't believe my eyes when this crocodile came drifting down the lobby towards me,' said Kevin. 'Davie Koch and I got the fright of our lives.' Further examination, however, revealed that the 4ft long reptile was not a monster of the deep from Beil Burn but an antique which the Craig family had kept in their home for years. 'It was some relief to find out that it was stuffed and totally harmless,' said David Koch.

Rescuers at the stables faced a bigger danger than a stuffed croc, however, and for a time evacuated the area as the flood waters reached a large electric transformer only yards away.

'I had totally forgotten it was there. It's not all that conspicuous,' said trainer Tony Dicken.

'We were not sure just how dangerous it would be when the water reached it or whether we would be electrocuted standing up to our waists in water so close to it - so we didn't take any chances. At the end of the day, however, everything seemed OK.' Tony and his wife, Jackie, were full of praise for the lifeboatrnen, police, coastguards and local people who came to their aid. 'It was a real team effort and we can't thank people enough,' he said.

The lifeboatmen and the D class lifeboat they used to carry fodder and saddlery from the stricken stables were back in the yard of trainer Tony Dicken a few days later, to welcome the horses from their enforced stay at Musselburgh Racecourse Stables - with a bag of carrots to help them settle in.

The Lifeboat D class D544 The Hastings The Crew Coxswain R W Wright Second Coxswain G Fairbairn Bill Tait Kenny Peters Stuan Pine Dougie Giltan Dougie Steel Kevin Keilor David Koch Ian Allison Paul Hutchison Paul McMutlenFamily of five saved in rough seas Criccieth lifeboat was alerted on 16 August following a call to Holyhead Coastguard from a family caught in heavy weather aboard their yacht just south of Criccieth Castle.Coastguards paged Criccieth lifeboat's deputy launching authority at 1235 informing him that a yacht on passage from Barmouth to Pwllheli had called up on a mobile telephone saying that she was in difficulty and making heavy weather approximately a mile and a half south of Criccieth Castle.

Crew pagers were immediately activated and at 1245 the station's Atlantic 75 lifeboat Mercunus proceeded in a rough sea and gusting strong south westerly wind- After a short search the lifeboat sighted the yacht rolling heavily with a fully reefed mainsail and jib. She was unable to turn into the wind and was in obvious difficulty. The lifeboat went alongside and passed a tow rope which was eventually made fast by the woman aboard and the lifeboat took the yacht in tow.

The Lifeboat helmsman had originally thought of towing the yacht to Porthmadog, but due to the state of the ebbing tide and rough conditions on the Porthmadog Bar, he decided that it would be easier to tow her to Pwllheli. After towing for a little while in difficult conditions it was seen that it would be a lengthy process to tow the yacht back to Pwllheli. In view of the exposed conditions aboard the yacht, where two adults and three small children were getting very cold and wet in extremely uncomfortable conditions, the senior helmsman decided to take them off the yacht and bring them aboard the lifeboat.

As the yacht's crew were unable to release the towline it had to be cut free by the lifeboat crew to allow the lifeboat to manoeuvre alongside. As the yacht was rolling heavily, the lifeboat had to be brought alongside three times to take off the casualties.

The three children were brought aboard on the first run, the woman on the second and finally the skipper on the third. Criccieth lifeboat left the the yacht and returned to station just before 1340.

The rescued family were then examined in the boathouse by a waiting paramedic, and although they were very cold and wet, they did not require any further medical attention. They were given hot drinks and a change of clothing before being driven home to Pwllheli. The yacht had been left to await the arrival of the Pwllheli all weather lifeboat which eventually towed her into Pwllheli Harbour.

After seeing to the needs of the survivors the lifeboat was swiftly rehoused and made ready for service again.In the nick of time...

A small fishing boat had a narrow squeak on 11 August when she got into difficulties, driving her perilously close to rocks off Buckie. Scotland.

Luckily, when they received the call from Aberdeen coastguard, Buckie lifeboat crew were already out in the harbour as they were completing engine trials in Arun class lifeboat 52-20, which was acting as a relief boat for the station's own boat. The coastguard informed the lifeboat that the small creelboat had fouled her propellers and was very close to rocks at Scarnose point. The casualty could then be heard over the radio asking when the lifeboat would arrive, to which coastguards advised, 'About five minutes' - That may be in time' came the anxious reply.

Five minutes later, when the lifeboat arrived, the casualty was just 6ft from the rocks - the lifeboat quickly passed a line and puiled her clear.

The fishing boat was then towed into Port Knockie Harbour arriving some 25 minutes later.New recruits in at the deep end It was Gary Roberts' first ever lifeboat service and Dwynwen Parry was only nine months into her probationary period, but under the wing of Helmsman David Jones, they helped to save a family of four from danger - resulting in Letters of Appreciation from the RNLI's Chief of Operations.

At 1610 on 27 May, Moelfre lifeboat was informed by coastguards that a small speedboat was sinking in Llaneilan Bay and that both station lifeboats would be needed to assist.

Closely followed by the station's Tyne class lifeboat Robert and Violet, Moelfre's D class Kingsand launched with 20 year old David Jones at the helm together with new recruits Gary Roberts and Dwynwen Parry.

A few minutes later, the crews were informed that the speedboat had sunk and that people were in the water so the D class pulled ahead of the all-weather boat and made good speed despite the Force 6 winds.

Arriving on scene at 1620, the inshore crew could see casualties clinging to rocks at the edge of the bay. The family of four had been in the water for ten minutes and, although well equipped with wetsuits and hfejackets, were exhausted, frightened and incapable of climbing the cliff where they were stranded.

Helmsman Jones took the D class into the cliffs where the relieved casualties were promptly brought aboard. Then, returning to the speedboat, the inshore crew managed to attached a line to her. The all-weather lifeboat was now able to raise the casualty boat on her capstan and tow her back towards the beach.

The family, a husband, wife and two young children, were later landed safely at Llaneilan Bay.

For their sterling efforts, ail three members of the inshore crew received a Letter of Appreciation from the RNLI's Chief of Operations. In his letter to Helmsman Jones, Mike Vlasto said, 'This was an effective rescue involving a fast passage in rough seas. You exhibited sound seamanship throughout the service and led your relatively inexperienced crew well. Very well done indeed!'Busy day for Rhyl ifeboats hyl lifeboat was the busiest lifeboat station in the UK on 18 June 2000 - responding to no less than ten incidents in ten hours! R Glorious sunshine helped to attract the crowds to Rhyl for the Royal British Legion fly-past and march. Rhyl lifeboat crew members, who had already assembled for their usual Sunday morning exercise, thought there would be a busy day ahead - but none of them would have guessed exactly how busy it would be.

By 1700, the station's inshore lifeboat had already been alerted to eight separate incidents, rescuing 13 people who, in most cases, had been swept out to sea in small infla tables.

The station's all-weather lifeboat was requested to search for two overdue jet skiers believed to be in the area of South Hovle Bank. Luckily Helicopter Rescue 122 spotted the skiers and was able to inform the lifeboat of their location. The lifeboat arrived on scene 10 minutes later to find the jet skis tied together with three people in the water. The casualties had been in the water for nearly two hours and were unable to help themselves. One woman was severely hypothermic and was taken straight to hospital by the helicopter - the two men were only slightly hypothermic and remained on board while the lifeboat brought them and their jet skis in.

By 2000, the lifeboat crew attempted to go home, only to get another call to five people trapped on a sandbank by the incoming tide. The inshore lifeboat again prepared for launch but luckily, the people managed to get safely ashore in the end.

The weary crew finally managed to get home at 2130!Determination saves boy's lifeThe life of a ten year old boy was saved in May thanks to the determination and cooperation of Cullercoats lifeboat crew and lifeguard Chris Heaney - earning them all a Letter of Appreciation from the RNLI's Chief of Operations.

Cullercoats' Atlantic 21 lifeboat launched at 1723 on 7 May, in response to a report that a person was in difficulties opposite the Rex Hotel in Whitley Bay. The lifeboat, helmed by Robert Oliver together with Crew Members Graham Webb and David Pendlington, arrived at the location three minutes later where Lifeguard Chris Heaney could be seen in the water supporting the casualty.

Because of the breaking seas Mr Heaney could not get ashore with the boy so he turned him over and kept his head above the water until the lifeboat veered down and swiftly recovered them both.

As the lifeboat made good speed back to the station, David Peddlington and Chris Heaney gave the casualty CPR and continued doing so with great determination despite the boy's worsening condition.

Upon arrival, Mr Heaney, now suffering from hypothermia, and the boy were transferred straight to hospital were they both made full recoveries.Dogged determination Liverpool coastguards contacted Douglas lifeboat station at 0824 on 2 January 2000 to advise that they had received several calls reporting the sighting of a black dog marooned on St Mary's rocks, on which stands the Tower of Refuge, built by Sir William Hillary, founder of theRNLI.

As there were no other boats around. Douglas' lifeboat, Sir William Hillary, left the slipway and, clearing the harbour, set a direct course for Tower of Refuge. The dog was clearly visible on the western end of the rocks at the water's edge.

The inflatable X boat was launched and was rowed to the rock landing, watched by a very apprehensive large black Labrador. On leaving the inflatable the crew were welcomed by the dog, obviously glad of the company, even in the shape of fully clad lifeboat crew. An inspection revealed that there were no other dogs or persons within the Tower or on the rocks.

The Labrador was large and heavy and, while very friendly, viewed the means of transportation with apparent scepticism and was not impressed. The crew members, who if nothing else were resourceful, had brought chocolate bars with them which were offered as inducement. The dog got the idea in one, jumped into the boat, ate the bar and promptly jumped out the other side! The crew, viewing this loss of stores as a serious set back, now reconsidered their tactics and, again, tempted the dog into the inflatable. The next bar had no sooner crossed the dog's lips when he was severely sat on and secured.

The inflatable and dog were recovered on board and the lifeboat re-entered Douglas harbour at 0921. The boat was ready for service again at 0945..