Two saved in harbour dramaFaced with the choice of a wait offshore for eight hours in gale force conditions or reaching dry Land quickly by a risky harbour entry, which would you choose? Decision time When a crew of two undertook a maiden voyage in their newly bought yacht, they could not have imagined that their lives would be at risk. Pete and Hayley Landon were sailing the 11m yacht Paperchase from Ramsgate to Eastbourne on the evening of 20 October 2002 when they hit heavy weather. Their instinct was to try to reach the safety of the harbour. Pete later explained: 'The desire for safety ... was overwhelming, versus eight hours of rough weather if we went offshore.' Before they took any action, they contacted the Lock Keeper at Eastbourne's Sovereign Harbour, Jason Foster, to let him know they were intending to try to enter the harbour through the channel. Jason phoned Coxswain Mark Sawyer for advice.

Mark recommended that the yacht should remain at sea and not risk entry. He knew that the conditions for entry into the harbour were against the couple. Darkness was approaching and there were gale force 8 winds coming in from the south east, the worst possible direction for entry into the harbour. It was nearly spring low water, so the channel leading to the harbour was flanked by shallow, rocky water. The swell was running across the entrance channel, breaking on the rocks and filling the air with spray. To add to their problems, the wreck of Barn Hill was a hazard just out to the east of the entrance. So Jason advised the yachtsman to stand off and wait.

The lure of safe harbour Despite Jason's advice, the couple decided to try to enter the channel to get to dry land. At the Harbour Office, Station Honorary Secretary Captain John Banfield watched the yacht on CCTV. As soon as he saw Paperchase making an approach to the channel entrance, he authorised the launch of the lifeboat with Mark Sawyer at the helm.

Pete and Hayley soon realised that they were making a mistake and tried to manoeuvre the yacht around to exit the channel. But Paperchase was knocked back round into the channel twice, by the sea and the wind. They were committed to making an approach.

The Mersey class lifeboat Fisherman's Friend arrived on the scene, five minutesafter launching. In winds of gale force 8 and breaking waves of up to 3m, Mark was having trouble keeping the lifeboat's head to sea and, in the troughs of the waves, he estimated that at times there was as tittle as 1m beneath the keel. To add to the difficulties, no radio contact could be made with the yacht at this stage.

Broached and grounded In the failing light the crew saw that Paperchase was well into the channel, entering an area of breaking water. The lifeboat crew saw several large waves hit the yacht, making her broach and knocking her out of the channel. Paperchase grounded on a rocky patch less than 100m from the northern breakwater. Pete and Hayley were left clinging onto the yacht's mast, in danger of being washed overboard. The breaking surf was coming right over the yacht. Mark recalled: 'We then knew that we had our work cut out.1 In very little searoom Mark tried several times to get close enough to pass a tow to the casualty with a heaving line.

Despite getting to within 10m, the lightweight heaving line could not be thrown with accuracy as it was blown downwind.

Mark was concerned about endangering the lifeboat crew by trying to get any closer, so he manoeuvered the lifeboat near enough to the yacht for Mechanic Daniel Guy to fire a speed line.

This worked perfectly and the yachtsman caught the speed line and secured it.

Daniel reflected:'Actually hitting the target bang on in those conditions, with a gale force 8 south easterly wind, was a bit of an achievement.'The lifeboat took the tension up on the line, the yacht was brought head to sea and she was towed towards deeper water in the channel.

Capsized Thick cloud meant that there was no moonlight, so the lifeboat fired two white parachute flares to monitor the yacht's progress. At last, radio operator David Riley was able to establish communications with the casualty for the first time and was reassured that everything was okay on Paperchase.

Just as things were getting better, two waves hit the lifeboat and then hit the yacht. Hayley remembered:'I just heard this big crash ... I was fairly sure that something had happened to the keel. Then my wellies started to get wet.1 Water rushed in and the couple were thrown into the water as the yacht capsized. Their hopes of reaching safe harbour on Paperchase were dashed and their lives were in danger.

With Paperchase capsizing, Mark ordered the towline to be cut immediately.

Pete and Hayley were holding onto the rails of the yacht, so the crew got heaving lines ready to throw to them.

The lifeboat made a few approaches but couldn't get close enough to the yachtas the rigging and mast were in the way.

The crew tried to reassure the couple.

Pete recalled: The thing that kept us going was the fact that the guys were willing us on; shouting and encouraging.' Bravery prevails Mark manoeuvred the lifeboat to within 3m of the upturned yacht and the heaving line and towline were passed successfully.

From the water Hayley grabbed the heaving line and wrapped the towline around Pete, who appeared semi-conscious.

Mark later praised the Very brave' actions of Hayley as she held onto Pete's lifejacket and pulled him alongside the lifeboat.

Four of the crew managed to pull Hayley up onto the deck, just after she was hauled up on deck, Crewman Mark Osborn was nearly washed over the side of the lifeboat through a break in the guardrail. Hayley instinctively grabbed him as she saw him going over and helped save him. The guardrail was swiftly remade.

At this stage Pete was still in the water, in danger of being lost. Daniel made a quick decision to go over the side of the lifeboat to save him. He climbed over the guardrails and stepped onto the lifeboat spray rail. Just in time he managed to catch hold of Pete one-handed and pulled his head above water. He then trapped Pete between his legs. Both men kept disappearing below water and Daniel shouted for a lifeline to be clipped on.

From the upper steering position Mark couldn't see Daniel or Pete, but he knew that the port propeller could be a danger to them. Mark realised he could no longer use the port engine to help with manoeuvring.

Suddenly, two large waves knocked Daniel off the spray rail and he ended up in the water alongside Pete. Daniel kept his wits about him. He recalls: 'Luckily my lifeline held and I kept hold of Pete, trying to keep his head above water.' Mark knew it would be difficult to recover the two men as they were exposed to the full force of the gale, so he decided to seek shelter within the harbour.

With Hayley safely on board, the lifeboatmen could now concentrate on recovering Pete and Daniel. Crewman Keith Murphy clipped himself onto the spray rail and gripped onto the exhausted Daniel, while Pete was recovered. It took four men to lift Pete clear of the water onto the deck.

By now, the lifeboat was in the relative shelter of the breakwater and Daniel was helped on board by two crew, after 20 minutes in the water. Mark made best speed to the awaiting Eastbourne Coastguard and ambulance personnel.

Thanks to the spectacular efforts of Eastbourne lifeboat, Pete and Hayley Landon reached their longed-for harbour.Exceptional service recognised The whole service only took an hour and a quarter, but it's a rescue that all involved are unlikely to forget. Captain John Banfield, Station Honorary Secretary, praised the lifeboatmen: 'I don't think we could get a better crew. Mark and David, especially, worked excellently together.

The rest of the lads were brilliant; didn't need to be told what to do. They just got on and did it.' Mark's actions in particular were complimented by Divisional Inspector Martyn Smith: 'A relatively new coxswain, he more than justified the confidence divisional staff had placed in him. Mark demonstrated exceptional clarity of thought and led his crew with determination and tenacity.' Mark is awarded the Silver Medal for his outstanding actions on the service and Daniel Guy is awarded the Bronze Medal for his instinctive actions and selfless disregard for his own safety. The actions of the rest of the crew are also recognised with medal service badges and certificates.

Jason Foster, Lock Keeper, received a letter of appreciation from the Chief Executive.THE LIFEBOAT Mersey class lifeboat ON-1192 Fisherman's Friend Funding: Lofthouse of Fleetwood Ltd, plus other gifts and legacies including the Royal Bank of Scotland THE CREW Coxswain Mark Sawyer Crew members Daniel Guy Benjamin Delaunay Keith Murphy Mark Osborn David Riley Richard Welch EASTBOURNE LIFEBOAT STATION Established: 1822 Previous RNLI Medals: One Gold, three Silver and four Bronze THE CASUALTY Crew of two on the 11m yacht Paperchase THE CONDITIONS Weather: Cloudy Visibility: Poor, darkness Wind: Gale force 8 Sea state: Very roughOff-duty lifeguard saves body-boarder When a man was caught by a rip current and swept towards some rocks at Newquay, Rod MacDonald, an off-duty Beach Rescue lifeguard, acted instinctively and bravely to save the man's lifeOff-duty Beach Rescue lifeguard, Rod MacDonald, was walking near Fistral Beach when he was approached by a woman who told him there was someone in trouble in the water. Paul Tilley had gone out from the narrow beach to body board. He had been caught by a rip current soon after entering the water and swept towards rocks between Little Fistral and the main beach.

It was a sunny afternoon on 3 October 2002. Unfortunately for Paul, the lifeguarding season finished just three days before. If the lifeguards had been around, Rod thinks that they 'would have had the guy before he even got close to the rocks'.

Rod had just been surfing himself, but had stopped as the surf was 'big, messy and rippy'. The sea conditions were rough and there was a ground swell of up to 2m.

Instinctively, Rod ran out to the edge of the cliff to see if he could help.

He couldn't see anything, so he ran further towards Little Fistral Bay. He spotted something that 'looked like a seal's head sticking out of the water'. Then he heard the shouts for help and realised it was a man.

Rod raced down to the scene and spotted Paul 50m from the shore.

He asked a passer-by to call 999 for the Coastguard. Rod clambered down the cliff, waded along a gully then swam over rocks and breaking surf to reach the casualty, 20m away. Rod found it relatively easy to get out to Paul: 'I got sucked out there really quickly. To get to him was really easy, but getting back to the beach was a struggle.' Paul was completely exhausted from fighting against the current for 20 minutes. He had let go of his body board when trying to swim to shore and now waves were breaking over his head.

Rod grabbed hold of Paul and tried to get up on the rocks. The pair were washedinto shoulder-depth water, only to be sucked back out of their depth, again and again. An unidentified passer-by and Lee Pulling, a retained fire-fighter, both entered the water to help Rod bring Paul out over the rocky bank, with waves sucking them back into the sea. They managed to lift Paul to the top of the gully, clear of the waves. The Newquay inshore lifeboat arrived but could not help at this stage.

Laid out on the sand, Paul vomited and Rod was glad to see this sign that he was alive. Rod was trying to stop the bleeding from the large wound in Paul's head and was concerned that he may have a spinal injury. Paul had cuts all over his arms and back, from where he had been thrown against the sharp rocks by the breaking waves. He was in deep shock. Paul then turned white and cold, and a pulse was hard to find, but Rod could see Paul's chest rising and falling. An ambulance crew arrived and stabilised Paul's condition. He was then winched to a Sea King helicopter from RNAS Culdrose and taken to hospital, where he made a full recovery.

As a highly trained and experienced lifeguard, Rod knows that he broke the golden rule of lifesaving by entering the water without any rescue equipment or protective clothing, but Rod's instincts to save the man were strong: 'During the incident itself adrenaline just takes over.' He suffered cuts and bruises from not wearing the right gear, but he later commented in true Aussie spirit: 'You're not going to get any less in a rugby game.' It was only after the paramedics had left that Rod started to think back to what had just happened.

Rod receives a Bronze Medal for his quick thinking, initiative and courage.

Simon Pryce, divisional inspector (South), praised Rod's actions in conditions 'that are probably the most difficult in which any lifeguard can experience: heavy surf, strong currents, waves breaking over rocks and nowhere safe to bring a casualty to shore.' Rod modestly says: 'Any of the guys that I work with, if they were in my position, they would have done exactly the same.' But the rescued PaulTilley sees things differently.

He knows full well that without Rod, his life may have been lost. Paul states simply and directly: 'I just have to say thank you.1THE LIFEBOAT D class lifeboat D-572 Ken and Mary Funding: Donated by the sons and grandchildren of Ken and Mary Stansfield THE CREW Helmsman Damian Rohdich Crew member Anthony Chambers PORTRUSH LIFEBOAT STATION Established: 1860 Previous RNLI Medals: Eight Silver and one Bronze THE CASUALTY A young boy stranded on a cliff THE CONDITIONS Weather: Part cloudy Visibility: Excellent Wind: Force 2 Sea state: CalmCliff-climbing lifeboatman saves boy Lifeboat crews are highly trained in many fields so they will be prepared when out on a shout. But there are a few services where RNLI training cannot help, where it is up to the individual to do something out of the ordinary. In this rescue at Portrush it was rock-climbing skills, initiative and endurance that were needed to save the life of a small boy Mechanic Anthony Chambers was working at Portrush lifeboat station, Northern Ireland, when a distressed member of the public rushed in near midday on 9 September 2002.

A young boy was stuck on the cliffs at Ramore Head, balanced precariously on a narrow ledge 10m above sea level Anthony shouted for Helmsman Damian Rohdich who was nearby. They knew that a delay by contacting other lifeboatmen or waiting for the authority to launch could be fatal. As conditions were fine, they launched the D class with just the two crew members.

The crew found the boy easily, four minutes after launching, 200m from the harbour mouth. They reassured the distressed child, 10m above them, and acted quickly.

They landed the D class on shore at the cliff face and secured the lifeboat. There was a risk that the boy might fall before a cliff team reached him. Damian had no experience of rock climbing and is not keen on heights but, with no thought for his own safety, he started the climb.

Wearing the full inshore lifeboat gear made climbing particularly difficult. The toecapped boots meant that Damian could not feel the rocks and there was little grip.

He managed to reach the child and soon realised that it was impossible to move him without the Coastguard cliff team. Anthony called for their assistance. Damian edged his way along the ridge, finally straddling the boy, holding him firmly against the rock face, awaiting the cliff team.

After around 20 minutes a lone Coastguard arrived at the cliff top and began setting up. At this stage Damian started to suffer from cramps in his arms and legs. After 30 minutes the Coastguard lowered a line down to Damian. Single-handedly, with great skill, Damian secured the line to the boy and then to himself. But their ordeal was not over.

Damian recalled: 'Once the line was secured it felt a bit better but we still had to hang onto the cliff.' It took another gruelling 40 minutes before the Coastguard dropped from the cliff top and made a controlled descent with the young boy to the base of the cliff.

Damian held the child securely for 75 minutes in total and remembers that he felt: 'completely exhausted. All strength seemed to drain out of me. Both legs and arms were cramped and my body ached all over.' Despite this, Damian lowered himself down on the securing line and reboarded the lifeboat quickly so that the boy could be transferred ashore as speedily as possible. On the way back to the station, Damian still found the energy to comfort the young boy.

An awaiting ambulance took the child to hospital, where he made a full recovery from shock and mild exposure. Damian too was fine after a rest, although he suffered a little from sore muscles the next day.

Damian is accorded the Thanks of the Institution on Vellum for his courage and endurance. Anthony receives a vellum service certificate for his presence of mind, initiative and his assessment of how urgent the situation was. Operations Director Michael Vlasto also sent a letter of thanks to the Coastguard cliff team.Brighton and Shoreham lifeboat crews joined forces to assist fire officers during a fire that gutted the south end of Brighton's West Pier on 28 March 2003 The fire was raging out of control on the pier, with no way for fire teams to access the area. A senior fire officer was transferred aboard Shoreham's all-weather lifeboat from the Brighton inshore lifeboat and he decided that the fire should take its course. The lifeboat performed a visual search to check that no-one was on the pier. The Coastguard rescue helicopter also did aerial searches using infra-red detection equipment to confirm there was nobody trapped in the fire.

The lifeboats were requested to stand by until seaborne firefighting crews arrived.

Many vessels had come close to get a better view, and the lifeboats warned them of the danger posed by the tons of debris floating away from the pier. Crew members of the Shoreham inshore lifeboat, Dave Laker, Dave Cassan and Tim Fox (pictured), helped clear vessels and also transferred firefighters and equipment to tackle the blaze.

At one point Brighton lifeboat had to rescue a man who had waded out trying to take close-up photos with a waterproof camera.

Shoreham's all-weather and Brighton's inshore lifeboats were stood down once all the firefighters arrived. Shoreham inshore lifeboat stayed on for another hour to transfer equipment and help with safety duties. However, with the tide dropping, the underwater debris was becoming too much of a danger to the lifeboat and the crew returned to the station.

A second fire, in May, sadly leaves the West Pier with a very uncertain future..