Two saved in harbour drama Faced 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 rough.