Thames race disaster avertedThe annual Veterans' Head of the River Race ended in chaos on Sunday, 21 March after being hit by gale-force winds and strong tides.

More than 140 boats were participating, with nine crew in each boat. Many craft were overwhelmed by waves of exceptional height for this part of the ThamesTwo RNLI lifeboats from Chiswick lifeboat station were ready to back up the race organisers' safety boats. At the start of the race, the E class lifeboat The Joan and Kenneth Bellamy was positioned at Chiswick and the Atlantic 75 lifeboat Amy Constance was positioned at Putney. As the weather deteriorated, these boats proved essential.

They were in action for over an hour and a half as more and more of the rowing boats were swamped.

Action for the RNLI lifeboats started when Helmsman Martin Blaker took the Atlantic 75, with crew members David Ferguson and Matt Gray, to assist a rowing eight taking on water close to Fulham football ground. A number of trainers' launches arrived shortly afterwards and they were able to take the rowers ashore while the Atlantic 75 took the boat in tow.

Shortly after this, Helmsman Neil Roberts in the E class, with crew members MarkTurrell and John Pooley, was called to Hammersmith Bridge to assist a safety boat helping an eight in difficulties. Meanwhile, the Atlantic 75 set off to Putney Bridge where another eight was sinking.

As they came round the bend in the river, Helmsman Martin Blaker and his crew were faced with the sight of three sinking eights and one capsized with people clinging to the upturned hull. The E class, now no longer needed at Hammersmith Bridge, set off to Putney Hard to help deal with the situation.

'The picture of the sinking boats, with about 35 people in the water, is one I will never forget.' Martin Blaker, Helmsman of the Atlantic 75 Amy Constance At this point, Martin took on the role of coordinating and controlling all the rescue efforts of the lifeboats, the race safety boats and launches. His first priority was to get all the people in the water or in sinking boats to the shore. When everyone was safely ashore and accounted for, the rescue team began to clear damaged boats and debris out of the water. He was then notified of yet another boat sinking at Barnes Bridge.

The E class went to deal with the situation and found nine women clinging to their submerged boat. They were taken back to their rowing club aboard the E class.

Martin then arranged for all the rowing crews left on the water to be told to go to the nearest rowing club. The Atlantic 75 then checked the race section of the river to make sure there were no people or rowing eights left in the water and that all the debris had been cleared. Staff at rowing clubs along the river were kept busy giving emergency aid, showers and hot drinks to rowers who swam or scrambled to the shore. Two people were taken to hospital suffering from hypothermia.

In this remarkable and complex service more than 40 rowers were pulled from the water as their boats capsized, took on water, sunk or were badly damaged. If it were not for the RNLI lifeboats, serious injuries or worse could have occurred. The Institution gained a great deal of positive publicity and the reputation of the RNLI lifeboats on the Thames was enhanced..