AWL 47-001 ‘CITY OF LONDON’ launched at 1752 hrs to assist the 40-foot fishing vessel ‘Mayfly’ suffering with engine failure, with 4 male persons on board approximately one mile southwest of the Looe channel buoys.
Shortly after launching the skipper of the ‘Mayfly’ reported that he had restarted his engine and was proceeding to the west towards the boat’s homeport of Portsmouth. The skipper asked if the ‘CITY OF LONDON’ would escort his vessel until it reached calmer waters. The ‘CITY OF LONDON’ arrived alongside the casualty at 1825 hrs and stayed with it until west of the entrance of Chichester Harbour where some shelter from the Isle of Wight was gained.
At 1845 hrs the skipper of ‘Mayfly’ was confident that he would be perfectly safe to continue his passage alone and the ‘CITY OF LONDON’ was released to return to station, arriving back at 1910 hrs, rehousing immediately, and was ready for service at 1930 hrs.
CREW: Martin Rudwick (Coxswain), Tony Delahunty (2nd Coxswain), Keith Lintott (Mechanic), Max Gilligan, Robert Archibald, Peter Delahunty, Will Moir.
WIND: South West F7. SEA: Moderate. WEATHER: Sunny.