In the airlift operation, the helicopter's winchman was plunged into the sea several times as the aircraft's crew struggled to deal with the conditions.
An RNAS Culdrose helicopter made several attempts to land a winchman on board a fishing vessel in 30ft (9m) high waves about 40 miles (64km) north west of the base, the Royal Navy said.
The Billy Deacon Search and Rescue Memorial Trophy was established in memory of a Coastguard winchman who lost his life during the rescue of 10 crew members from the Green Lily off Shetland in November 1997.