Between 4 and 5 o'clock on the morning of the 3rd December eleven of the fishing cobles belonging to Whitby put off for fishing, but some hours later the sea increased rapidly and commenced to break heavily right across the entrance to the harbour.

As it was felt that the return of the cobles would be attended by great risk, the No. 2 Life-boat John Fieldcn was launched shortly before 10 A.M. and stood by each coble as she came into harbour..