Hello all
I am a retired policeman who in the last years of my service was a skipper on the Hampshire Police launch 'Ashburton'.
On the 27th. August, 1978 the launch was returning to Cowes, from the west, when I saw the Q.E.2, in the Thorne channel, sailing towards me.
I also saw a dory, drfting near the West Brambles buoy. I altered course towards the dory but was interrupted from my intention by a call from the Q.E.2, on marine V.H.F., requesting assistance to dissuade a French sloop from crossing their bow.
The bridge of the liner was very much higher than my line of sight so I thought it reasonable to assume (never a good idea) that they had accounted for the presence of the dory and considered the sloop a greater danger. I altered course for the French vessel and called them over our loud hailer, temporarily fixed at the stem head. The frenchmen ignored our hails but the liner gave an angry blast on her horn, whereon the sloop came about immediately.
By this time the Q.E.2 was making her turn to port before rounding the West Brambles buoy. It was obvious to me that the dory was still in her path although there had been no communication from the liner regarding the small vessel.
I crossed the wake of the Cunarder and raced down her starboard side. We reached the dory which was of steel and about 18ft LOA. Her bow was towards us and she was at right angles to the course of the liner. There was a man and woman on board frantically trying to start one of the two outboards on its transom. There was no time for niceties. A line was thrown to them which they secured to the aft end of the boat.
I tried to tow the craft but with the two persons standing aft and with a low transom the sea poured over the stern and the dory sank. The young couple on board were left in the water.
My crew laid on the deck and grabbed the couple's arms.
I rushed from the wheel to cast off the dory before its drag became an issue.
The bow of the liner looked mighty high and very close.
I returned to the wheel and moved ahead pivotting, as much as I dared, round the dory's crew, to lessen the chance of my crew losing their grip.
A huge wall of steel slid by us, eerily silent.
We returned the rescued couple to the Hamble from whence they came.The girl's father moaned about the loss of his dory.
Apparently the shear pin on one outboard had broken and they could not start the reserve motor.
I have nothing but admiration for my two crew members. They laid on the deck dragging the couple through the water completely at the mercy of events. It was easy for me. I had the throttles under my hand and could have powered out of danger at any time. They had no such luxury.
