ILFRACOMBE RNLI inshore lifeboat Deborah Brown II has launched twice since our last Rescue Watch report.

In the first incident she was tasked to a 29ft Westerly Konsort, Willow, which was returning to Wales after a stay in the harbour in Ilfracombe.

The yacht, with one person on board, was about half a mile from the harbour entrance when the throttle stuck open on the boat and, as there was no wind, the vessel was unable to sail and required assistance.

Local fishing boat Walrus overheard the call for assistance and set out to try and catch the yacht, which was managed approximately three miles offshore. The inshore lifeboat then met both boats and once a towline was established, towed the yacht back to the harbour.

The second call was to four adults cut off by the tide between Rapparee and Broady Cove underneath Hillsborough. The four Polish visitors had been sunbathing when they were caught out by the incoming tide. Although the weather was very pleasant there was a testing swell running onto the rocks.

Helmsman Carl Perrin manoeuvred the boat in close to the outcrop, enabling crew member Matt Simpson to scramble ashore and assist the casualties back into the lifeboat with the help of crew member Ben McCann. All four casualties suffered cuts and abrasions to their hands, knees, feet and ankles. They were treated at the Ilfracombe Tyrell Hospital Minor Injuries Unit.

Lifeboat crew member Mark Tucker has been put through his boat-handling paces by Nigel Jones, the deputy divisional inspector of lifeboats for the South Division. Mark has been a member of both the all weather and inshore lifeboat crew for a number of years.

He recently completed an inshore lifeboat helmsman's course at the RNLI Lifeboat College in Poole, Dorset and after ably demonstrating his ability to handle the lifeboat, has qualified as a helmsman.

The RNLI provides free, practical sea safety advice to leisure water users. The Ilfracombe Lifeboat station has two local volunteers — Mark Rumson and John Clemence — who are happy to chat about lifejackets, anchors, weather, tides and much more!

You can make contact with them via the RNLI website www.rnli.org.uk/seasafety , or at the Ilfracombe Lifeboat station or by phoning them on 07500 266684 / 07971 563094.

The RNLI is currently running a campaign to encourage all boat users to wear lifejackets and ensure they are fully serviceable. Mark Rumson has provided the following information:

USELESS UNLESS WORN!

● Even in summer, cold water shock can kill you in minutes. Always wear your lifejacket. Give yourself a chance.

● It sounds hard-hitting, perhaps dramatic, but this slogan is based on facts.

● It forms the basis of the current sea safety campaign being run by the RNLI, the charity that saves lives at sea.

● Most sea-going craft carry lifejackets, but it's a sad truth that one of the most important pieces of safety equipment carried on board is often the most ignored.

● A mid-season lifejacket check is no more difficult a task than checking the oil and water levels in a car engine!

● A quick inspection of the bladder, bottle, firing mechanism, outer fabric and straps is usually all that's required.

● Obviously, a visit to a lifejacket service agent should be part of your annual maintenance programme.

If you would like any further information about Sea Safety, visit the RNLI website, which will give the details of the Sea safety Officer in your area.

Bernice Putt

THE Clovelly RNLI inshore lifeboat was launched on Thursday morning to go to the aid of two visiting fishermen, who had reported that they were in trouble three miles east of Clovelly.

The lifeboat Spirit Of Clovelly landed the two men safely at Clovelly, and also recovered their small inflatable boat.

The holidaymakers had left Clovelly the previous evening on an angling and camping trip. They had camped at Portalidge Cliffs, three miles across the bay from Clovelly, and when trying to return to Clovelly in the early morning, they failed to start their outboard engine on their 4.5 metre inflatable boat.

They contacted Swansea Coastguard, and the lifeboat was quickly on scene. After assessing the situation, it was decided to take them back to Clovelly by lifeboat, as they had become cold and wet.

Senior Helmsman Adam Campbell-Garnett went aboard and managed to re-start the engine, and took the vessel to safety through the surf. He then drove it back to Clovelly Harbour.

Adam Campbell-Garnett said: "We were pleased to be called out to ensure that further trouble was avoided."

Dan Garnett