My father (Peter Eyre) served on HMS Bulwark, and was on duty at the time of the accident with XA390:
"We were at anchor in Bangor Bay, Belfast, and there was a very strong wind..it was a typical dull grey windy North of Ireland day.
They decided that because of the strong wind, it was like cruising into wind for normal take off or launches.
The Gannet was on the Port catapult and applied normal full power for launch. The strop broke prematurely during the runup and she went off the end at slow speed. The Gannet just missed a civilian sailing dinghy that was racing around....the crew of the dinghy (a husband and wife) recovered the crew, and they came back alongside.
The crew of the aircraft were unhurt, and the crew of the dingy were given a gift of safety equipment."
Regards,
David Eyre