AWL 47-001 ‘City of London’ launched on exercise at 1837 hrs and at approximately 1916 hrs were tasked to assist the 27 foot Guernsey-registered fishing vessel, ‘Janus’, broken down with two male persons on board, in a position N 50° 29.30 W 001° 02.49 approximately fourteen-and-a-half miles south-southwest of the current position of the ‘City of London’.
Solent Coastguard informed the ‘City of London’ that Freshwater Lifeboat (a non-RNLI station) was also being launched, and that the HM Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 'India Juliet' was being scrambled. Rough conditions with steep head-on seas meant speed was reduced to prevent damage and injury to the Lifeboat and crew.
At approximately 1940 hrs the Coastguard informed the ‘City of London’ that Freshwater had had to abort their operations as conditions were too severe and, in fact, Yarmouth RNLI Lifeboat had been launched to escort them back to safety.
The ‘City of London’ arrived at the casualty’s original given position at 2012 hrs and, even though sea and weather conditions were bad, the ‘City of London’ should have at least been able to see 'India Juliet' circling the casualty, but this was not so. Speaking directly to 'India Juliet' it became apparent that the ‘City of London’ had been given the wrong position and the casualty was still some fifteen miles further to the west. The Coxswain spoke with Solent Coastguard and explained that it would take at least another hour or more to reach the casualty in the prevailing conditions. At this point both parties agreed it would be quicker and safer to re-task Yarmouth Lifeboat to attend the ‘Janus’ once they had escorted Freshwater Lifeboat into safe waters.
At 2016 hrs the ‘City of London’ was released to return to station, arriving back at 2130 hrs, rehousing immediately and was ready for service at 2200 hrs.
CREW: Martin Rudwick (Coxswain), Geoff Mellett (Mechanic), Robert Archibald, Phil Pitham, James Albery, Sacha Borg, Craig Sergeant.
WIND: S F7-8. SEA: Rough. WEATHER: Heavy rain.
N.B. Yarmouth Lifeboat eventually towed the ‘Janus’ safely into Yarmouth Harbour at 0100 hrs on the 12th December.