Skill and determination end 11-day ordealBeeps from several pagers interrupted Sunday mass in Courtmacsherry early on 1 December 2002. With a violent storm blowing outside the church the congregation and crew knew Lives could be in danger Trevor Wilson was on passage from Plymouth to Madeira when he encountered steering problems. He lost all power, including electrics, which left him with only a handheld radio to call for help.

Storms in the Bay of Biscay pounded the yacht and the yachtsman was injured, breaking three ribs in a fall. He ended up about 30 miles off the Cork coast after 11 gruelling days. A fit and able seaman, Trevor had needed all his skills and experience to survive the ordeal for so long.

Trevor remembers being 'mentally and physically shattered'. He was giving up hope of rescue when a French trawler picked up a faint message from his handheld radio and called the Coastguard for help. Courtmacsherry Harbour Trent class lifeboat launched at 10.18am. As soon as they were out of the harbour she hit the full force of the storm - winds gusting up to SOmph and 9-10m waves.

The lifeboat pitched and rolled heavily.

Visibility was generally good, but Mechanic Michael Hurley recalls that squalls meant they could not see out of the boat, even with the wipers going: 'It was like somebody had put curtains around the boat.1The Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 115 was first on the scene. With no VHP communications from the yacht to help locate her, the lifeboat made her final approach to the casualty using VHF/DF bearings of the helicopter's transmissions.

It was soon after midday when the lifeboat reached the yacht. Trevor recalls his elation at the sight: To see that Lifeboat coming - the joy! - I'll keep it in my • mind forever.' Coxswain Dan O'Dwyer decided to get Trevor onto the lifeboat as quickly as possible by manoeuvring close enough to the yacht for Trevor to step onboard. In a 9m swell and high winds, this operation demanded great seamanship skills from Dan. The crew made the vital preparations. Michael stressed: 'Nothing could be left to chance on a day like that.' From 50m downwind Dan approached the yacht, manoeuvring the lifeboat close enough to the yacht for a lifebelt and rope to be passed successfully. This was a vital step in the rescue just in case anything went wrong with the transfer and Trevor fell into the water. The lifeboat approached again. With the starboard shoulder of the lifeboat close enough to the yacht's port beam, Trevor stepped across with the help of three crew members. Afterwards, Trevor praised his rescuers: 'They conducted the transfer most professionally and I had confidence in them.' The lifeboat pulled away and Trevor was taken down into the wheelhouse. The crew ascertained that Trevor had three broken ribs and a badly bruised arm from his fall in the Bay of Biscay storms, so airlifting Trevor to the helicopter was unwise. But before the lifeboat took him back to dry land, the crew made a valiant attempt to save Trevor's yacht Bowden.

Dan was unwilling to risk the life of a crew member by transferring someone onto the yacht to secure a proper tow, so they tried to tow the yacht by its anchor rope.

After 20 minutes of towing the rope broke and Bowden was abandoned. The lifeboat returned to the calm of Courtmacsherry Harbour. By 2.30pm, Trevor was safely back on dry land.

He was taken by ambulance to Cork University hospital.

Modest about their achievements, the crew were relieved everything had gone according to plan. Michael commented: 'It was a textbook evacuation: 1,2,3, job done.1 While Michael might make the rescue sound straightforward, the service has been recognised by the RNLI as being something out of the ordinary. A letter of appreciation from the RNLI Chairman was given to Dan in recognition of his skilful seamanship in difficult conditions. A collective letter from Operations Director Michael Vlasto was presented to the rest of the crew for their seamanship and determination.THE LIFEBOAT Trent class lifeboat ON-1205 Frederick Storey Cockburn Funding: Bequest of Frederick Storey Cockburn THE CREW Coxswain Dan O'Dwyer Crew members Michael O'Donovan Michael Hurley Vincent O'Donovan Liam Murphy Conor Dullea Chris Guy COURTMACSHERRY HARBOUR LIFEBOAT STATION Established: 1825 RNLI Medals: One Gold, four Silver and one Bronze THE CASUALTY Lone yachtsman on yacht Bowden THE CONDITIONS Weather Mainly dry, sunshine and showers Visibility: Good, reduced in showers Wind: Violent storm force 11 Sea state: Very high, 9m swell.