MEMBERS of a Morecambe lifeboat crew are to be commended for their bravery after rescuing the crew of a yacht in a force seven gale.

Harry Roberts, 41, Paul Moffat, 35, and Sam Dobson, 18, risked their own lives to embark on a rescue mission in terrifying conditions.

The crew went went to the rescue of a crew of grounded yacht Lady Friendship on June 12 after it was reported to be "behaving erratically" off Heysham Power Station.

With steep breaking seas, one wave almost caused the lifeboat to capsize and the conditions grew so bad that they exceeded the boats operating limits.

When the lifeboat arrived at the scene the crew realised that all they could do was to rescue the three people on board. Helmsman Harry Roberts called for back-up from Fleetwood but it would take the all-weather lifeboat 30 minutes to reach the scene.

In the meantime the crew of the stricken vessel were asked to abandon their yacht but they were reluctant to do so. The Morecambe lifeboat stayed with the Lady Friendship until the Fleetwood lifeboat arrived and they both waited until the yacht refloated with the rising tide and it was then towed to Fleetwood.

Helmsman Roberts then decided to return to Heysham Harbour rather than risk the journey back through the shallows to Morecambe. Training Divisional Inspector for the North, Rob Warrington, said: "All three lifeboatmen aboard the inshore lifeboat endured an extremely uncomfortable 36 minute passage of approximately six nautical miles in atrocious sea and weather. Helmsman Roberts handled the lifeboat in a safe and seaman-like manner throughout in the worst conditions he has ever experienced as a helmsman. He passed the tow in the same manner, attracting favourable comment and praise from the crew of the Fleetwood lifeboat. His decision making and judgement was good throughout the service and recovering at Heysham was the correct course of action."