Amazingly, Poole lifeboats hadn’t been called out for a month, belying our status as one of the busiest coastal stations, but on Sunday 28 October at 10.59am, my pager broke its silence. Spurred into action, I knew that it could be something serious but it didn’t stop me from wishing that I’d had breakfast!

We crew headed down to Poole lifeboat station in and on our various forms of transport. In pouring rain, those who came on bike or foot were wet before donning their waterproof gear. We were all anxious about the impending shout, despite knowing that the experience of coping with testin conditions would do us good. The thoughts we voiced varied from ‘Great, a job at last!’ and ‘Looks like I’ll miss my Sunday lunch’ to ‘But who the hell ...?’

The ‘Who ...?’ were seven people onboard the 11m yacht Résumé. They had been enjoying an exhilarating race in Poole Bay and had taken safety precautions but were struck by disaster when their mast broke. Although shocked, no one was injured. The Coastguard picked up Skipper Ian Standbridge’s Pan Pan radio message and contacted our Deputy Launching Authority (DLA) Rod Jenkins.

The choppy seas and winds gusting up to 48mph were above the advised operational limit for our inshore lifeboat so Rod decided to launch the all-weather Tyne class City of Sheffield. Second Coxswain Andy Elton picked six experienced crew, including me. He recalls: ‘We had to be cautious but quick in response to the casualties’ needs, given their position.’

Within 6 minutes of the page, and in worsening weather, we launched and headed down the harbour. Even with adrenalin pumping there was the usual banter. We couldn’t miss out on ribbing full-time Mechanic Paul Taylor as he ventured out of the wheelhouse – he is more often seen in the depths of the engine room and certainly doesn’t do ‘wet’! Yet, as Crew Member Pete Smith describes: ‘With the wind driving the waves clean over the boat I got a faceful more than once.’

I knew from my own local sailing experience that Ian was a skilled yachtsman but, as radio operator that day, I could hear his concern as Résumé struggled to stay off the notorious Hook Sands. With part of the mast under the hull they had only minutes before they would hit. We wouldn’t be able to get close enough in such shallow waters to transfer anyone so Andy requested the launch of the inshore Friendly Forester II after all, knowing that the heavy surf would be within her capabilities. With crew already at the boathouse, she launched at 11.22am.

Meanwhile, Résumé was being buffeted by the breaking waves but her crew had already prepared for a tow, tying ropes to the front cleats and back to the winches to spread the load. Paul and lifeboat Crew Members Mike Fearn and Pete Smith tried to stay steady on their feet as they readied a tow line and passed it to fellow volunteer Mike Hallard. As 2m waves hit us the training kicked in: Andy adeptly manoeuvred the lifeboat as close to the yacht as possible and Mike’s successful first-time throw to the crew on the foredeck of the yacht meant that she was quickly towed clear of the danger area.

Now the Atlantic 75 approached, with Gavin McGuinness at the helm. Despite the yacht surfing down the waves behind us, sails flailing in the wind, and the Forester’s propellers making contact with the swinging mast, Crew Members Joe Grove and Sam Wicks successfully transferred to Résumé. They helped lash down the sails and mast and reassured her crew.

As we towed the yacht towards shelter, we thought the worst was over but there was further alarm when we spotted two more potential incidents. The Forester intercepted two kayakers heading out to Hook Sands ‘to play’, while we thought we’d have to rescue a photographer who’d rushed to the water’s edge to catch the scene and slipped – but fortunately he grabbed a wooden rail just in time and didn’t fall in.

With relief, the repartee resumed onboard as we congratulated Mike on his throwing skills. Then our thoughts turned gratefully to Rod, remembering that doughnuts would be waiting for us back at the station. We can’t seem to persuade all our DLAs to bring them!

Bringing the yacht alongside us, with six fenders to cushion any knocks, we continued the tow safely past the international ferry terminal where the tug Herbert Ballam (with our Senior Helmsman Paul Singleton as skipper) was pulling the Barfleur ferry off her berth. Once inside the confines of Poole yacht club, Andy skilfully turned the all-weather lifeboat and her partner 180º to bring Résumé securely alongside a pontoon at 12.30pm.

Quite often we underplay the role we perform. Andy describes the shout as the ‘usual run of the mill stuff, just more lively,’ but Probationary Crew Member Sam Wicks remarks: ‘The skill of the Helm and Coxswain were something to admire.’ Casualty Skipper Ian Standbridge and crew mate Sally agree: ‘We were very relieved to see the lifeboat arrive. They pulled us to safety quickly and efficiently – so “thank you” to all those who came out to rescue us.’

Later that week the yacht’s crew delivered a token of their appreciation saying: ‘Hope you enjoy it!’ And the lifeboat crew certainly did enjoy the Dorset apple cake – does everyone know the way to our hearts is through our stomachs? Well mine at least!