Five saved by Clovelly lifeboat

Tired and hungry, but otherwise none the worse for their experience, three men, two women and a dog were brought into harbour by Clovelly lifeboat on Monday afternoon after having spent the night in an open boat.

The party had left Combe Martin on Sunday in the 26ft Lyn II, the owner, Mr W J W Watkins being accompanied by his wife, Mrs Irene Watkins and three friends – Mr and Mrs A E J Coleshill, of Radlett, Herts, and Mrs S Rumball, of Twickenham.

When they failed to return fears were felt for their safety. Then, in the morning, they were located off Lundy.

It was not until shortly before 2pm, however, when the boat was 150 yards off the dangerous rocks at Hartland Point, that a distress signal was flown. Called by the coastguards, Clovelly lifeboatmen, who had been standing by, launched with the aid of villagers (the tide was then low) and less that two hours later towed the Lyn II into harbour, Mr Watkins still being in the stern sheets.

During a meal at the Red Lion Hotel, Clovelly, the party’s first since lunchtime on Sunday, they talked about what had been something of an ordeal.

Mr Watkins said that having been to Lundy, they ran out of fuel half way across the bay when returning to Combe Martin. It was then dark and he dropped anchor. As the wind was against him he headed back to Lundy and anchored in the shelter of the island. There was a nasty sea running. “This morning” added Mr Watkins, “the islanders saw our plight and gave us some petrol, which got us as far as Hartland Point. The coastguards seemed to know all about our predicament and I put up the sail to make myself more obvious to them. “

Mr Coleshill said: “Once or twice during the night I really thought we had had it” and Mr Rumball told how twice during the night they had had to light flares to avoid being run down. They had taken it in turns to keep watch.

Gazette article dated 30 September 1970