RNLI rescue mission from Lynmouth to Porlock was re-enacted for 125th anniversary

A rescue boat is being hauled 13-miles (20.9km) across land to mark the 125th anniversary of a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) mission.

The Overland Launch is being celebrated with a sponsored haul along the same route from Lynmouth in Devon, over Exmoor, to Porlock Weir in Somerset.

It is being run by the Lynmouth Sailing Club, the Lynmouth Flood Memorial Hall, and the local RNLI branch.

All profits from the event will be donated to the RNLI.

On 12 January 1899, a vessel named The Forrest Hall encountered trouble off the coast of Porlock whilst sailing from Bristol to Liverpool. The ship had 18 crew members onboard at the time.

Due to severe weather, the coxswain of Lynmouth Lifeboat, Jack Crocombe declared it was too rough to launch the lifeboat from the harbour.

Instead, he proposed to start the rescue mission 13 miles (20.9km) away in Porlock, where it was more sheltered.

By 20:00 GMT, eight minutes after the Lifeboat Station received the distress telegram, about 100 local people gathered to haul the lifeboat named Louisa, which weighed 10 tonnes and was 32ft (10m) long.

The journey also included a climb up Countisbury Hill and a trek across Exmoor - after which most of the rescue team turned back.

Tony Piper, Lynmouth Shanty Crew captain, said: "This is a small boat on an easy to move trailer - they had a massive cart wagon loaded with three tonnes of the Louisa lifeboat.

"The road was just earth, stone and dirt track, and now we're moving this along a lovely tarmac road."

The entire journey took almost 11 hours to complete, with the remaining 20 rescuers reaching Porlock at about 18:30 GMT.

When they reached The Forrest Hall, they towed the ship to Barry in Wales, arriving at 18:00 GMT.

All 18 crew members onboard The Forrest Hall survived and the rescue operation stands as one of the most challenging feats undertaken by the RNLI.

Sally Minoli, from Lynmouth Sailing Club, said: "This celebration is to focus on the strength and tenacity of those whose only imperative was to save lives.

"Those who went the extra mile… and then another twelve."

Community manager Andrew Escott added: "It's wonderful that in the RNLI's bicentenary year we get to celebrate this impressive lifesaving feat, which also helps raise money towards saving lives at sea locally too.

"All are welcome to visit the boathouse at Minehead to see how this history has shaped our station."

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