On the 16th February nearly all the fishing-boats belonging to the port left the harbour in the morning, the weather being then moderate with the wind from the S., but at 10 A.M. the wind suddenly changed to S.S.E., blowing strongly. At 11 o'clock some of the boats returned, reported that there was a very heavy sea breaking across the bar and recommended that the Life-boat should be taken out to assist the other boats as they came in.

The Augusta was therefore launched, proceeded outside the bar and accompaniedthe boats—about thirty in number—over the bar, remaining afloat until all of them had arrived safely in the harbour..