Windsurfer saved in raging gale Windsurfer Peter Waters was enjoying a great day in the surf at Porthcawl on 26 January 2002 when a sudden wind knocked him through his sail and into the water. 'I was about half a mile out to sea,' he says. 'I jumped off a 5m rolling swell line (a type of wave). When I was about 1 m from landing, a gust of wind forced the board into a nose-first landing.

I was travelling at about 20 knots and slammed into the water, catapulting me head first through my sail.' Fortunately for Peter, he was not alone. A friend had been windsurfing with him and came over to see whether he could help. Peter remembers: 'He couldn't help at that distance from the shore. He sailed to shore and dialled 999 for the Coastguard.' At 2.18pm, Porthcawl station honorary secretary Phil Missen was alerted by the sound of his pager.

Swansea Coastguard had received the call from Peter's friend, reporting that Peter was in difficulties off Newton beach.

The weather was appalling, so Phil told the Coastguard that he would alert the crew but would not launch until more information was available. By the time the lifeboat crew had assembled, the Coastguard immediate response team had arrived at Newton beach and confirmed that Peter was in trouble between Newton Point and Ogmore-by-Sea.

Phil discussed the viability of a launch with helmsman Tim Morgan and decided that, despite the dreadful weather, a successful rescue was possible and the lifeboat should launch. So at 2.24pm the Atlantic 75 lifeboat G//es was launched.

Porthcawl pier afforded the lifeboat some shelter for the launch but Tim soon needed all his local knowledge and boat handling skills to cope with the large breaking seas and surf. On top of this, the sea was choppy and confused, especially around Newton Point.

When the lifeboat reached the search area the crew attempted to let Swansea Coastguard know their position, only to find that there was something wrong with the radio and they couldn't communicate at all. Tim was now in a difficult position, as the lifeboat relies heavily on the full range of information that can be passed on over the radio. However, he knew roughly where Peter was and decided to continue the search.

Peter was hard to spot, as he was wearing a dark wetsuit and balaclava and he was continually disappearing in the large seas. However, crew member Carl Evans eventually located him, drifting to the edge of the Black Rocks, in a dangerous areas of shallow, choppy water and hidden rocks.

Peter had now been in the sea for about 20 minutes. He was starting to feel very cold, despite his warm clothing and was delighted to see the lifeboat approaching. He says: They positioned their boat facing the oncoming swell, waited for a lull in the swell and pounced at full speed to pluck me plus my board into the lifeboat in what seemed a nanosecond.' Tim realised that it wouldn't be safe to try to return to the lifeboat station in the rough seas and with no radio, so he decided to land Peter at Newton beach. He brought the lifeboat close to shore and then Carl swam with Peter to the shore, The Coastguard team was waiting for them and helped Peter into warm, dry clothing.

Peter recovered quickly once he was in dry clothing. He says: 'I feel indebted to the RNLI for the assistance they gave me. Thank you very much.'.