A narrow escape for Dutch couple at DunbarLifeboatmen and Coastguards hauled a crew of two to safety from a grounded yacht, seconds before falling rocks destroyed the vessel A state-of-the-art £100,000 yacht, Noblesse, was entering Dunbar Harbour on the afternoon of 5 July 2003 when she was caught on its approach at low tide by a northerly 3m breaking swell.

The vessel was swept up onto rocks on the north west side of Dunbar Castle cliffs and the top of the mast was caught on the walls of the castle itself, 18m up.

The Dunbar inshore lifeboat was quickly on the scene, but Helmsman Stuart Pirie had concerns about getting through the surf at the harbour entrance, with the low tide. The approach to the casualty was extremely dangerous with seaweed, underlying rocks and a choppy sea. The lifeboat got to within 300m when Duncan MacKay swam over to the yacht with the tow rope and then returned to the lifeboat. In full lifeboat kit, with the swell pushing him one way and the backwash pulling him another, this was no easy task.

At this point the Dunbar Trent class lifeboat S/> Ronald Pechell Bt arrived on the scene and the tow rope was transferred to her. But they were unable to refloat Noblesse.Stuart swam from the inshore lifeboat to Noblesse, boarding the vessel via the tow rope. He explained to the Dutch couple that they were in a dangerous position and needed to be taken off their yacht. Stuart recalls the conversation: The main difficulty in this shout was the language difference. Attempting to convince the casualties to leave the vessel proved frustrating.' However, once the initial shock was over, the Dutch couple realised the potential danger of their situation.

Meanwhile the Coastguard mobile cliff rescue team was setting up on top of the castle. Four RNLI crew members assisted the team and Coastguard Addie Grey was lowered to the bow of Noblesse. The situation worsened as the vessel was pivoting on its keel with the top mast scraping back and forth 1-2m, dislodging rocks and masonry of the castle.

Windows were broken on the spray deck and large rocks crashed through the forward hatch.

Everyone knew they had to act quickly. With great professionalism, lifeboat crew and Coastguard worked together. Stuart guided the woman to the bow of the yacht. Addie helped her and both were hauled up the cliff face to safety. Stuart then assisted the yacht's owner to the bow, where he too was hauled to safety with Addie.

Stuart later commented: 'I'll never forget the image of Addie Grey climbing down the cliff to remove the casualties with masonry falling about him.'With the Dutch couple off the yacht, Stuart quickly made his way to the stern of the vessel away from the falling rocks and jumped into the sea to swim back. Seconds later, larger sections of the castle descended from above and smashed onto the vessel.

To save Noblesse from further damage, the lifeboat crews attempted to tow the yacht away from the base of the cliff but the tow rope snapped in the process. Numerous further attempts were made to pass a line to the vessel. The inshore lifeboat crew swam with difficulty to try and reach Noblesse but were hampered by the swell. A crew change was now required on the inshore lifeboat as crew members became exhausted trying to swim lines to the vessel after nearly 2 hours at the scene.

Martin Keiller from the Trent was transferred to the inshore lifeboat and attempted to swim to Noblesse. Several crew members also tried to swim/wade out to her from the shore to no avail.

On a final attempt Crewman Douglas Gillan from the Trent class lifeboat swam out but he too was unable to reach Noblesse. He signalled for help and was swiftly pulled aboard the Trent class. The Trent class tried to get closer to her bow, but the Lifeboat Operations Manager judged that this was too dangerous and advised the lifeboat crews to abandon any further attempt to rescue the vessel.

The precaution proved wise as the mast soon collapsed, crashing down on the Noblesse, damaging her hull.

Noblesse was wrecked, but her crew suffered only minor cuts and bruises during their narrow escape. Thanks to the great teamwork of the RNLI and HM Coastguard, the lives of the Dutch couple were saved. Stuart recalls that after the service he: 'felt elated and reflective.

Elated that everyone was safe, but also reflective of what could have happened if the response from everyone hadn't been as quick.' He praised all the crew involved: They acted professionally and cohesively even though they were a young crew.'THE DUNBAR INSHORE LIFEBOAT D class Lifeboat D-544 The Hastings Funding: David Hastings and brothers THE INSHORE LIFEBOAT CREW Helmsman Stuart Pirie Duncan MacKay (landed after 2 hours) David Thomson (landed after 2 hours) Paul MacMullen (boarded from shore) Alan Blair (boarded from shore) ASSISTED BY DUNBAR ALL WEATHER LIFEBOAT Trent class lifeboat 14-09 Sir Ronald Pecheli Bt Funding: Bequest of Dora, Lady Pechell, Dunbar Lifeboat Appeal with other gifts and legacies THE ALL WEATHER LIFEBOAT CREW Coxswain Gary Fairbairn Kenneth Peters Douglas Gillan Brian Cleator Martin Keillor Erich Schonwalder Denholm Horsburgh DUNBAR LIFEBOAT STATION Established: 1808 RNLI Medals: Four Silver, one Bronze THE CASUALTY Crew of two on 13m yacht Noblesse THE CONDITIONS Weather: Part cloudy Visibility: Good Wind: Force 2 Sea state: Moderate or choppy, 3m swell, breaking at harbour entrance.