Today, we remember the Fastnet race disaster of 1979. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank our brave crews, who saved nearly one hundred lives that fateful day, and to remember the fifteen sailors who never made it home. This video is dedicated to them 🧡 | RNLI

Fastnet tragedy 1979

Helicopters from RNAS Culdrose played a crucial role in the biggest UK rescue in peacetime during the Fastnet Race of 1979 - now, 40 years later, we remember those that died and those who risked their lives to save others. Working alongside warships and RNLI lifeboats, around 130 were rescued - 75 by Royal Navy helicopters. https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2019/august/01/190801-fastnet-anniversary | Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose

We were honoured at Culdrose to interview Dave Fowles, a former chief aircrewman, who spoke about his time dangling on a wire from a Sea King helicopter – in a sotrm with 30-foot waves rolling past him – during the 1979 Fastnet Race disaster. He was photographed on that fateful day 40 years ago - looking cheesed-off, after an 8-hour rescue mission – with his crew mates as they walked back from their aircraft at Culdrose. You can listen to his story in his own words on our video above. A total of