Rescue of sailor leaves no room for error When a lone sailor found himself in trouble in Runswick Bay last September, it took close cooperation between the crews of the Staithes and Runswick inshore lifeboat and the Whitby all-weather lifeboat to bring him to safety. Operating in fearsome weather conditions and severely restricted waters, the two crews utilised each lifeboat's particular strengths to pluck the casualty from his ill-fated vessel.At 1.47 in the morning of Wednesday 20 September 2000, Whitby lifeboat station was contacted by Humberside coastguard. The trimaran SIS with one person on board was in trouble in Runswick Bay in large breaking seas.

The crew were paged and the Trent class lifeboat George and Mary Webb was launched with second coxswain Keith Elliot in command.

'Having had previous dealings with the SIS and her owner in Runswick Bay, in daylight and less severe weather, I was certain that we would need the Staithes Atlantic to assist if it was possible for them to launch in such conditions,' recalled Keith.

The Staithes crew were paged and the Staithes Atlantic 21 Foresters was launched with helmsman Stephen Iredale in command.

'As with all night-time callouts, if you are asleep when the pager goes, your reaction is automatic,' said Stephen. Thinking only starts after you've started to run to the boathouse. I quickly realised that the weather had turned nasty and my initial thought was — what are we being called out for?' It was a dark night with poor visibility and the only sight was the white tops of breaking waves. The large breaking waves of 3-4m were pushing both crew and boat to the limit. Stephen had to use every ounce of his experience and skill just to negotiate the seas.

'In those sea conditions, in the pitch black with only white water visible, having a good active crew is vital. In this case, team work was the key to the success of the callout.' Helmsman Stephen Iredale As Stephen and his crew battled through the waves, the Whitby lifeboat arrived at Runswick Bay and found the SIS with the help of coastguards on the shore using searchlights and torches to light up the scene. It was immediately clear to Keith and the crew that there was little they could do until the Staithes lifeboat arrived.

Keith recalled the terrifying conditions in the bay. 'As we approached the casualty we had seas breaking over the lifeboat to a depth of 2m or more, causing some of the crew's lifejackets to inflate automatically. We manoeuvred closer to the SIS so that we could attempt a last-resort rescue should she break free of her anchor before Staithes arrived on the scene.' Keith held the lifeboat about 30m from the casualty and two of the crew manned the searchlights, one facing forward illuminating the casualty and one facing aft to light the approach of the Staithes lifeboat. Meanwhile, Stephen and his crew had been having an arduous passage, withpoor visibility in driving rain. The journey took 20 minutes, about four times the normal, due to the severe weather conditions.

Stephen moved in to assess the situation.

Seas were sweeping over the entire length of the trimaran and he knew it was vital to get the crewmember off as quickly as possible. Keith manoeuvred the Whitby lifeboat around to provide as much lee as possible, although the worsening sea conditions meant that the lifeboat was now rolling through 50°.

'As Staithes Atlantic was approaching the SIS, they were at risk of being smashed at any time.' Second Coxswain Keith Elliot Staithes crew member Sean Baxter instructed the casualty to get on deck in preparation for transfer to the lifeboat. Stephen approached the trimaran three times before it was possible to get into position between its main hull and the outrigger. 'The casualty appeared, crawling along the deck, and I knew we only had one chance to nip in and snatch him,' said Stephen. 'Once we were alongside, Sean and Colin went forward to grab him. I think they literally prized him off the deck.' Sean and Colin held the casualty firmly on the deck of the Atlantic as waves washed through the lifeboat, threatening to sweep them all away. As Stephen brought the boat around,they managed to move aft and secure themselves.

It was now vital to transfer the casualty to the Whitby lifeboat as soon as possible, as he would not have been able to make it back to Whitby in the inshore lifeboat.

Despite the heavy weather, the transfer was completed without too much difficulty and the two lifeboats headed out to sea.

Just as Keith thought he could head for home, alarmsstarted ringing throughout the lifeboat. The bilge alarm had activated and the crew found they had two feet of water in the engine room. 'At this point we were homeward bound with the casualty on board,' said Keith.

'The prospect of all eight of us thumbing a lift back to Whitby on the Atlantic in the prevailing weather conditions was not a nice one.' Fortunately, the pumps cleared the water, which had entered the engine room when the boat was positioned stern to sea while awaiting the Staithes lifeboat earlier in the service.

The weather was now so bad that the Staithes lifeboat could not risk the journey back to Staithes and so it carried on to Whitby in the company of the Whitby lifeboat, returning to Staithes the next morning.

'Only those that were on that job can possibly know just how horrible the conditions were that night. The crews on both boats showed great courage carrying out their duty in a manner for which they can all be proud.' Second Coxswain Keith Elliot 'This was easily the most difficult shout I have ever been on helm or crewed for.

Obviously I'm really honoured to be presented with a medal, but I don't think I've got any plans to go for a Silver!' Helmsman Stephen IredaleTh« Lrl«tooat Atlantic 21 B-531 Foresters AssJsting LHaboit Trent class ON-1212 George and Mary Webb Tha Craw Qronze Medal Helmsman St*ph*n lr*dal« for his 'courage, determination and boalhandling' Second Coxswair Karth Ellkrt for his 'boath and ling, seamanship and leadership' Medal Service Certificate Crew Members Sean Baxter Colin Harrison Vellum Sermce Cemhaue Mechanic Glann Goodbarry Second Mechanic Nicholas Botham Third Mechanic John Pearson Crew Mem&ers Anthony Mortoy Mark Frank land In"..' I Mr,.