THE LIFEBOAT Anjn class lifeboat OM-1150 Hibtrntt Built 1989 Cost £600.000 Funding A very generous donation from the Irish Sailor* and Soldier* L*nd Truft. which also provided funding toward* th« running of lifeboat* in Ireland THE CREW Thjmki of the Institution on Vellum Second Coxswain Patrick Mullen (or his 'dedication to fluty on the three Oays of a harrowing and arduous service' Joined crew 1993 Deputy 2nd Coxswain 1995 2nd Coxswain 1997 Co-swain 2001 Occupation Skipper Chairman'* Lettei ol Thank* Mechanic John Mulkemn tor his 'greal attention to duty' Chiel Executive'* Letter* olThanks and Vellum Service Certificates Craw Members Joseph Gill Aonghu* Dillane Wayne Stuart-Col* Operations Director s Collective Lett" of Appreciation Ciew Members Vincent MircCarron Stephen Kilmartin Mairtin Coyne Mairtin Fitzpatrick Ron en Macgiollapharaic ARAN ISLANDS STATION Established 1927 Pieviout Medals (some awarded before an RNLI Station was established) Silver 1830, 1837. 1847.

18511x21 Bronze 1938(17). 196SI.4] Thanks on Vellum. 1987.

HMtxSI THE CASUALTY 35m Spanish trawler ATOM Crew 13'We were trying to get to the port of Rosaveal when we hit rocks. We all clung to the sinking boat for as long as we could but it went under. I swam to the rocks. I was exhausted and the next thing I remember seeinc was the lights of the helicopter above me.' Ricardo Garcia, sole survivor of the Arosa tragtThanks on Vellum Spanish trawler tragedyTwelve Spanish fishermen lost their lives when their trawler sank in appalling weather off the west coast of Ireland. Just one man, 24-year-old Ricardo Garcia, was saved after the Welsh-registered Arosa hit rocks on 3 October last year..

The crew of the Aran Islands lifeboat were paged just after 5am following a request from the Valentia Coastguard. Unfortunately, a problem with the pager system meant that many of the crew failed to receive the call and just five men responded: second coxswain Patrick Mullen, who was acting coxswain, mechanic John Mulkerrin and crew members Joseph Gill, Aonghus Dillane and Wayne Stuart-Cole.

Nevertheless, the boat launched quickly as the crew knew that time was of the essence for the men on board the trawler.

The Arosa had been sailing in heavy seas when she got into difficulties near Skerd Rocks, 10 miles north west of Inntshmore, close to Slyne Head. This spot is well known to the lifeboat crew as extremely hazardous. It turned out that the trawler had sunk in an area known as 'The Quarry' which is littered with submerged rocks. To make matters worse, the weather, which had been bad to start with, was deteriorating rapidly.

As the lifeboat made her way towards the last reported position of the vessel, they heard over the radio that the Shannon Coast Guard helicopter had located the vessel and picked up one survivor. As the helicopter rushed the survivor to Galway hospital, the lifeboat arrived on scene and started the arduous job of searching the heaving seas for signs of life.

After two hours' fruitless searching, the crew spotted a liferaft but this sadly proved to be empty. Almost two more hours passed before the first victim was located. The crew managed with great difficulty to bring his body aboard the lifeboat- An hour later a further body wa spotted and brought aboard.

The lifeboat continued to search all day with the help of Irish naval vessel Eithne and a local ferry. Th crew recovered one more body before steadily worsening weather and the crew's complete exhaustion forced them to return home.

They had been at sea for 14 hours in some of the worst conditions possible carrying out one of the most distressing tasks lifeboatmen will be asked to undertake.

Despite this, Patrick and John were determined not to give up. The next day they went out again, this time joined by crew members Vincent MacCarron, Stephen Kilmartin and Mairtin Coyne, ft further 11 hours searching in even worse weatherconditions revealed no further bodies. On the third day Patrick and John tried once more, accompanied again by Vincent and Mairtin, and joined by crew members Mairtin Fitzpatrick and Ronan Macgiollapharaic. Another rough day at sea found nothing more.

A further two bodies were located later but the other seven men remain missing presumed drowned. Survivor Ricardo Garcia was treated for hypothermia and shock before being reunited with his family.

This was a harrowing and arduous service with a tragic outcome, despite the outstanding efforts of the lifeboat crew. It had been Wayne's first time as part of the crew after volunteering only a short time before the rescue. Neither he nor 18-year-old Aonghus had faced such a grim task before and the other members of the crew did a marvellous job of maintaining morale during the long first day.

Fortunately, this sort of service is rare. Of over 6,000 services a year, the lifeboat is called out to recover those who have drowned just 60 times on average.

totheArosa 3 October 2000 0516 Irish Coast Guard receives report of sinking vessel 0517 Lifeboat crew paged 0602 Hibernia launches on service 0635 Irish Coast Guard helicopter recovers survivor 0640 Lifeboat arrives on scene 0845 Empty liferaft located 0855 Ferry Aran Seabird arrives to join search 1005 Liferaft recovered and secured on aft deck 1030 First body located and recovered 1130 Second body located and recovered 1410 Third body located and recovered 1745 Lifeboat heads for Rosaveal, Galway Bay 1918 Three bodies and liferaft landed at Rosaveal 2000 Lifeboat returns to Aran Islands boathouse 4 October 2000 0725 Lifeboat launches on service 1825 Lifeboat returns to Aran Islands boathouse 5 October 2000 1015 Lifeboat launches on service 1635 Lifeboat returns to Aran Islands boathouse'Crowds of vessels were milling around.

As we drew level with the ferry I saw oni yacht, then two, three, four vessels all caught up hard against the side of the ferry. A RIB had gone in to help and that had ended up trapped as well.' Helmsman Gavin McGuinesFerry horror ppy endingEven experienced sailors can sometimes get caught out by unusual circumstances. Saturday 5 May was a bright, clear day, one of the first weekends this year with ideal weather for a pleasant day's sailing.

Hundreds of boats were out and about in Poole harbour and the surrounding bay and by midafternoon there was a constant stream of pleasure boats crossing in and out of the harbour entrance.

Poole harbour is a huge area of water but has only one very narrow passage through to the sea. This area can become quite clogged up by boats on sunny weekends and is made more crowded by the large ferries that go from Poole to the Channel Islands and France, and the Sandbanks chain ferry, which crosses back and forth across the harbour entrance taking tourists from Poofe and Sandbanksto Studland beach and the Purbecks. To complicate matters further, sea conditions were far from ideal that day. There was a hard ebb tide, in excess of five knots,' recalled helmsman Gavin McGuiness.

Crew member Paul Savage added, 'It was probably the worst tide I have seen at the entrance in 16 years on the crew.' A group of yachts was leaving the harbour short)* after 2prn just as the Channel Islands ferry was entering and the Sandbanks chain ferry was starting its voyage from Studland to Sandbanks. As they trie to make their way through the crowded waters, several small vessels were caught out by the stronc tide and found themselves swept up against the sic of the chain ferry.

Fortunately for the occupants, both Poole lifeboats were already out in the harbour, respondin to an earlier shout. 'As we approached, crowds of vessels were milling around', said Gavin. 'As we drew level with the ferry I saw one yacht, then two, three, four vessels all caught up hard against the side of the ferry. A RIB had gone in to help and that had ended up trapped as well.

'I approached the yacht in most trouble and Ann* and Paul managed to get a line onto the bow of the yacht and slowly pull it clear. Meanwhile the Brede had pulled the other two yachts clear.

'As we returned for the fourth yacht we saw itfinally swamped by the tide and it went down. Two men were clinging to a grabline on the side of the ferry but the woman had disappeared.' Realising what had happened, Coxswain Jonathan Clark took the Brede round to the other side of the ferry to search for the missing woman. After what seemed an impossible time she emerged, semiconscious but still alive, floating in the water near the ferry, Mark Cole, seeing that she was unable to help herself and was in grave danger of drowning, leapt into the water fully clothed to assist her. They were both pulled back onto the Brede, which hurried back to assist the ILB.

Meanwhile, remembered Gavin, 'I drove the ILB in against the side of the ferry and Anne and Paul reached over and grabbed Mr Steward. The strength of the tide meant they were unable to pull him aboard so they secured him to the side with a rope.' One man was now safe. But now it was the turn of the lifeboat to get into difficulties. A passing vessel threw up a large wash that flooded the ILB with water. The bow lifted up almost trapping Paul's leg under a walkway on the ferry. Fortunately Anne managed to pull him clear in time. With the bow raised up and the weight of water in the boat, the stern started to go under. Thankfully the ALB arrived and was able to attach a line to the bow and pulled her clear. The ILB crew were now able to recover Mr Steward into the boat and rush him over to a waiting ambulance crew.

Meanwhile, Mr Atkinson, supported by lifebuoys lowered from the ferry, was able to make his way to a small ladder and was helped onto the ferry by the ferry crew.

Mrs Steward was detained overnight in hospital, but fortunately suffered nothing worse than shock. 'I'm not bruised,' she said. 'I think it's because we were sailing with so many clothes on.

I had got to the stage where I knew I couldn't hold on for any longer - I thought I'd had it. Then I came to the surface on the other side of the ferry and there was the RNLI boat waiting to rescue me.

which was lovely.''It was total confusion. The noise of the public on the chain ferry shouting and calling, plus the noise of all the boats.' Crew member Paul SavageTHE LIFEBOATS Brede class lifeboat ON-1089 Inntt Wheel Bu.lt 1382 Cost f 154.000 Funding Inner Wheel clubs in Great Britain and Ireland together with other gifts and legacies Atlantic 75 lifeboat B-710 Fritndty fottstf II Bunt 1995 Cosi: £61,250 Funding The Ancient Order of Foresters Friendly Society in memory of Norn Green THE CREW Chairman'! Letter of Thanks Helmsman Gavin McGuin«*i ILB Crew Members Paul Savage Anne Millman Chief Executive'* Letter of Trunk» 2nd CoKSwa n/2nd Mechanic Mark Cole Operation* Director'* Collective Letter of Thanhs Co «s wain Jonathan Clark Crew Members James Haw Roy Coxon P004.E LIFEBOAT STATION Esidbi.shea 1865 P'evious Medals Isome awarded before an RNLI station was established) Gold 1824 Silver 18241.2], 1825. 1853, 1868(12), 1882 Thanks on Vellum. 19881x31 THE CASUALTY 6m yacht Crew Pamela and Denis Steward and Dennis Atkinson THE CONDITIONS Weathe- Fine Visibility Good Wind NNE Force 3-4 Sea state Choppy, 1m iwellTHE LIFEBOAT Arun class iifeooat ON-1143 Ann L«M»! Frtsfr Built 1988 Cost £552,162 funding Gift from the Hugh Fratet Foil ndalion THE CREW Operation* Director'* Letter ol Thanhs Coxswain Philip Hlgion Mechanic Timothy Witkini 2nd Coxswain/2n ) Mechanic Stephen Bryci Third Mechanic Creon Carmichael Emergency Mechanic Francis Anderson Crew Members Jam** Toole Robert MacLeod Ian Elwi* Jane GriHHti* Tony Ratcliffa Steven Crichton TOBERMORY LIFEBOAT STATION Established 1938 Closed 1947 Reopened 1990 THE CASUALTY 4.400 tonne, 100m Norwegian merchant vessel Lysfoss Crew:fl THE CONDfTIONS Weather Cloudlets blue *ky Visibility Good - 5/10 mile* Wind NW Force 2 Sea Mate Calm with no *w«H Picture HM Coastguard'If it had not been as calm as it was for the five days that the vessel lay aground, the effects of pollution would have been catastrophic in such a sensitive marine environment. The quick actions of the crew in getting a boom in place around the vessel helped a great deal to stem the flow of oil into the sea.' Honorary Secretary John Wilshire oom Tobermory lifeboat crew took a leading role in a major environmental operation after a cargo ship ran aground on 7 May. The stricken vessel could clearly be seen from the lifeboat station, firmly wedged onto rocks just a 10-minute journey across the Sound of Mull. The crew quickly established that noone was injured but, remembered one crew member, 'there was a sheen of diesel visible on the water around the ship and a great many patches of heavy fuel oil. The smell of diesel and oil in the area had to be experienced to be believed.' The crew realised that if they didn't act fast they could be facing a potential environmental disaster.

All non-essential personnel were taken off the ship, leaving the master and chief engineer, together with lifeboat crew members Robert McLeod and Tony Ratcliffe, who helped to stabilise the vessel. Robert recalled, 'I was led down into the engine room where I was met by a sight reminiscent of a U-boat having been depth charged as water and diesel gushed in'.

Three of the Lysfoss's fuel tanks had ruptured and the ship also had several containers of hazardous chemicals aboard. Fortunately, honorary secretary John Wilshire managed to locate a small antipollution boom which the lifeboat ferried out to the casualty and, with the help of crew members Phil Higson and Andy Malcolm, the boom was positioned around the vessel.

Having averted immediate disaster, the lifeboa station boarding boat stood by for the remainder c the day. At 9pm the Lysfoss developed a dangero list as the tide came in and the lifeboat was callec once again to evacuate everyone to safety.

A steady stream of people started to arrive in Tobermory, from the casualty's owners and insui to an expert salvage team. The lifeboat found its providing an ad hoc bus service as each group required transfer out to the casualty and back to town. The visitors also took over the station and the next few days it was a hive of activity as the salvage and anti-pollution operations took place, vessel was eventuajjy refloated and taken to Bel to unload before heading to Europe for repairs.

mented 'this highlights tl anti-pollution measures Sound of Mull is an area i life and is also an increasi busy shipping channel! It should be possible to h, effective anti-pollutiorriifeasures in place within hours rather than days| Fortunately, the quick ac of the lifeboat crew m|ant that the pollution was contained and the wildlife survived unscathed.

A crew member need for fast respon around our coasts. Tl in sensitive marine wlife and is also an increasi busy shipping channel! It should be possible to h, effective anti-pollutiorriifeasures in place within hours rather than days| Fortunately, the quick ac of the lifeboat crew m|ant that the pollution was contained and the wildlife survived unscathed.

in sensitive marine wThe RNLI exists to save human lives but if we can save pets at the same time - particularly lovely big soppy dogs like Ruby - then that is all right with us.'Family and dogs snatched to safetyLyme Regis inshore lifeboat faced an unusual challenge on 31 July this year. They rescued six holidaymakers and their three dogs - one an eight stone Labrador with injured paws - who were in danger of being cut off by the tide two miles east of Seaton.

The Bryan family, who were holidaying from Hollingbourne, in Kent, realised their predicament as the water closed in around them.

Fortunately, they had a mobile phone, which they used to alert the Coastguard who called out the Lyme Regis lifeboat.

After putting a crew member ashore with the family at Culverhole Point, it was obvious that more manpower would be needed to transfer the over-weight pooch, so the lifeboat returned to pick up additional crew members.

Once safely returned to Lyme Regis, it took four crew members to lift Ruby the Labrador out from the lifeboat and into a waiting Coastguard rescue vehicle - which whisked her off to the local vet, where she was diagnosed as suffering from shock and four very badly blistered paws.

Ruby's owner, Lynn Bryan, praised the lifeboat crew for the way they handled the incident. In reply, David Manners, Lyme Regis station secretary commented that the RNLI exists to save human lives, 'but if we can save pets at the same time - particularly lovely big soppy dogs like Ruby - then that is all right with us/Brothers found in failing light Brothers Aran and Marcus Farrell were fortunate to survive after the dinghy capsized in strong winds off Downderry and they tried to swim ashore in fading light. Looe lifeboat was alerted and quickly located the boat a mile offshore but its crew were nowhere to be seen. However, superb seamanship enabled the lifeboat crew to estimate how far the boat was likely to have drifted and how far the brothers were likely to have swam.

Fortunately, the cold and exhausted pair, who were virtually impossible to see due to the failing light and their dark wetsuits, were found about 300m away and pulled aboard the lifeboat. The lifeboat crew, who each received letters of appreciation from the RNLI's Chief Executive for the successful rescue, then returned to tow the severely damaged dinghy to safety.

Crew member David Darlington said, The two men were luckier than they realised. When we found the boat they were nowhere ne it and we couldn't see their heads in the water. They had started to swim to shore but they weren't wearing lifejackets and it wasn't lor until dusk. They would have quickly become very tired.' David adde 'Our advice to sailors in trouble is always to stay with your boat as makes it much easier for emergency services to locate you.' Fishing vessel towed to safety A fishing boat, grounded on rocks and taking in water, was towed safety amid thick fog on 12 May thanks to the crew of Lerwick's relief lifeboat Fraser Flyer.

The Severn class lifeboat promptly launched and came alongside the vessel, Sarah Joan, and put a crew member with a pump aboart to help reduce the water level in the casualty's hold, which was carrying some 16 tonnes of sand eels.

As soon as the pump was in situ and running, the lifeboat passec the tow and started to take the weight as the casualty was being smashed against the rocks at the north end of Mousa. With high tid only a few hours away, the lifeboat made continued attempts to pul the fishing boat clear - often losing sight of her completely in the Showing superb skill and seamanship, the lifeboat crew finally managed to tow the vessel out of danger, where she was escorted to nearby Malakoff Pier. The pump was left aboard to keep water levels down until morning, whereupon Sarah Joan safely arrived at Heogan fishmeal factory with her cargo.Station secretary saves drowning man Trearddur Bay honorary secretary Jack Abbott was awarded a Royal Humane Society award and Resuscitation Certificate for saving the life of a man he found face down in the sea on 24 May.

The casualty was trying to retrieve his boat, which had slipped off its trailer and headed off into the sea.

The sailor, in his late 50s, swam after the vessel but got into difficulties and tried to get back to shore.

Some minutes late Jack, who was rigging his sailing boat outside the lifeboat station, looked up and was horrified to see him floating face down in the water some 50m from the shore.

'I immediately swam out to the casualty, managed to turn him on his back but could find no signs of life.' he said. 'As I dragged him a few metres to safety up the beach, I shouted to an onlooker to call an ambulance...' Jack gave emergency mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to the man who, initially, did not respond - it was only with considerable perseverance that the man started to cough up seawater and began laboured breathing. Jack asked the beach warden to fetch some oxygen from the beach house and the ambulance arrived.

'By this time he was recovering quite well and was beginning to wake up. We got him to the ambulance,' he said.

'It was only good fortune that I was on duty at the lifeboat station. The RNLI first aid training saved the day.' Burn/ Port crew member Ryan Griffiths (right) had a hard time convincing fellow crew member Jeremy Williams that they had shared the workload equally after the crew had taken part in a low-water exercise along the very muddy Welsh coast. {In fact, Ryan's role in the exercise simply hadn't taken him down to the mud!)THE LIFEBOAT Severn class lifeboat ON 1218 John tnd M*rg*rrl Doig Builf 1996 Cost f 1 58m Funding Bequest of Ml» Mary Doig together with other legacies THE CREW Operations Director'* Collective Letter of Think* Co i swain Seanie Murphy Ciew Members Martin Morinrty Leo Houlihan Andrew Ouigley Thomns Gilligan Richard Ouigley Dominic Lyn* VALENT1A LIFEBOAT STATION Established 1864 Oosefl 1896-1946 Previous Medals (some a waided betoie an RNLI station was establishedl Silver 18281x51.1861,1970 Bronze 1963 Thanks on Vellum 19701x41.

1983 THE CASUALTY 34m Spanish hshing vessel Galtxia Crew 12 THE WEATHER Cloudy Visibility Good Wind SE Force 5 Sea slate Choppy, 4m swell Main: John and Margaret Doig Picture Rick Tomlinson'The whole lot would have been gutted but for the rescue operation. However, there was very little damage in the end and the vessel was able to head back to Spain/ Fire dramaFire drama Coordination between the lifeboat and the Navy was the key to the successful operation to save a blazing Spanish trawler. Fire had broken out at around 3pm on Saturday, 27 January in the accommodation section of the ship, which had 12 people on board.

The John and Margaret Doig left Vafentia at 3.20pm and headed for the trawler's position, 55 miles west of Bray Head. Fortunately seas were moderate with good visibility and Force 5 winds but the journey still took two hours. The Irish Naval vessel LE Aoife was also in the vicinity and arrived shortly after the lifeboat.

The Navy took command of the operation and put a firefighting crew on- board the trawler, while the lifeboat stood by. After tackling the fire for almost an hour, the Navy requested that the lifeboat evacuate 10 of the Spanish crew members, although the skipper and first mate stayed on board to help the firefighters. The lifeboat then stayed on scene to heip the Navy team with the transfer of fire-fighting equipment.

During these transfers, coxswain Seanie Murphy noticed that manoeuvring the lifeboat seemed more difficult than usual so he asked mechanic Leo Houlihan to investigate. He found hydraulic fluid leaking into the steering system due to a broken pipe flange. Thankfully, the problem was not incapacitating but it made Seanie's job far harder than normal as he manoeuvred in 3-4m swells between the two other vessels. It was only thank to his considerable skill that the lifeboat was able continue helping. 'It is on occasions like this that teamwork really comes into play,' said Leo.

The fire fighters had been having difficulty tack the blaze but at 11,30prn, after six hours' effort, it was finally brought under control. The lifeboat fen the 10 crew members back to Valentia, arriving at 1.45am on the Sunday morning. During the entire journey, Leo struggled with the steering problem enable Seanie to get them home.

The Galaxia was towed to Valentia. Thanks to th efforts of the Navy and the lifeboat crew, damage limited to the accommodation and galley areas of tl ship and, after a couple of days for repairs, the ship was able to sail back to Spain under its own power.

The lifeboat's steering problem was also speedily remedied and she was back on duty soon afterwan 'Nothing less would be expected of us.' Coxswain Seanie MmShortly before Sam on Saturday, 10 March, both Lough Swilly lifeboats were called to rescue a burning fishing vessel. Mulroy Coastguard also launched and rescued the skipper, who had abandoned the burning vessel and was in a liferaft. He was then airlifted to hospital by the Sligo Air Corps helicopter, where he was treated for smoke inhalation.

Despite the best efforts of the crew, the boat burned down to the water line within 20 minutes and then sank. This was the first callout for Lough Swilly involving the Tyne class lifeboat.THE LIFEBOAT Tyne class lifeboat ON-l 115 Good Shtphttd Bunt 1987 Cost £637.000 Funding An ecumenical appeal to enurehei with othe flift* end legecie* THE CREW COM wain/M echanic Bernard Devlin Second Coxswain George O'Hegan Oew. Members Ctrl Murphy Marie Clire Steventon Berry Stevenion LOUGH SWILLY LIFEBOAT STATION Established 1988 Previous Award Thanks on Vellum 1993 THE CASUALTY 14m Aquastar lishing vessel Lidy olPonnfblmgh Crew Thames McKmley WEATHER Part cloudy Visibility Good Wind NW Force 2-3 Swell 0-1 m C The fire is extinguished and the burntout wreck starts its journey to the bottom of the sea..