By Commander E. S. CARVER, R.D., R.N.R., Inspector of Life-boats for the Eastern District.

WE left Cowes just before 7 A.M. of the 4th October. I had with me the Blyth Coxswain and three men, the Blyth Motor Mechanic, the Mechanic from the Storeyard, and Mr. Otto Vogt, the Secretary of the Norwegian Life- boat Service, who was making a part of the voyage with us in order to study the Institution's latest type of Motor Life-boat. With a favourable tide we reached Worthing at 10.50 A.M., having averaged 10 knots, and were received by the Mayor, Alderman Mrs. Chapman, Mr. Harry Hargood, O.B.E., President of the Worthing Branch and a member of the Committee of Management, and members of the Local Committee. We visited the Worthing Life-boat House, were entertained to lunch, and, by the courtesy of the proprietor, saw a special film of the Worthing Boat at the Cinema. I then took members of the Committee a short trip, and we left at 3.10 P.M., reaching Newhaven at 5.25 P.M., having done the 58 miles from Cowes at an average speed of 9-24 knots.

Next morning we left Newhaven at 7.5 A.M. The weather was fine and clear, with bright sunshine and a smooth sea. With these ideal conditions, and a strong flood tide in our favour, we reached Dover at 1.35 P.M., a distance of 58 miles, at an average speed of 9-23 knots. Here I took Mr. Vogt to see the Steam Life-boat, and he then left for London, after expressing his warm appreciation of all the kindness that had been shown him by the Insti- tution.

We had had ignition trouble with two of the cylinders, and immediately on reaching Dover I had telephoned to London for new sparking plugs. These arrived by the 6.30 train, and were fitted at once. I decided to take advantage of the night tide, and we left Dover at 2 A.M., the weather being fine but hazy, with light winds and a smooth sea. About 6.30 A.M., when we were nearing the Kentish Knock Light Vessel, and were out of sight of land, two small land birds arrived on board in a very exhausted state. The crew fed them with crumbs and water, and within an hour they became so tame that they were hopping about on the men. They remained with us until we made the land again, about 11 A.M., when they flew ashore. We arrived at Lowestoft at 2.5 P.M., having run 92 miles at an average speed of 8-36 knots.

A large crowd gathered to see the Boat.

We left Lowestoft at 6.10 the follow- ing morning, signalling the Coast- guard Stations to report our arrival at Cromer about 10.30. Here we found a large crowd waiting, and I stopped for a quarter of an hour that the people might see the Boat and the crew see the new works at the Cromer Station.

We went on our way under sail and motor-power, and reached Grimsby at 6.50 P.M., a distance of 108 miles, which we did at an average speed of 9 knots.

During the last hour we had strong W.N.W. winds and some sea, the nearest approach to rough weather during the whole passage.

Next day we left Grimsby at 12.10 P.M. in fine clear weather, with a slight sea, and on the run from Spurn Point to Flarnborough Head we had interesting proof of the value of sails as an addition to motor-power. For the first two and a half hours there had been no wind, and during this time we remained in exactly the same position, abeam of a tug with a lighter in tow, which was steering the same course. Then a light breeze sprang up from W.N.W., at 4 P.M., and by dusk the tug was five miles astern. We reached Whitby at 9.10 P.M. There was again a very large crowd collected to see us arrive, and we burnt flares as we passed up the Harbour. We had lun 83 miles at an average speed of 9 knots.

Next morning we left Whitby at 9.25, with fine but hazy weather and a smooth sea. Five miles out we ran into dense fog, and I saw nothing else until I made Sunderland Breakwater at 1.30 P.M., about 36 miles from Whitby. The weather then cleared, and we arrived at Blyth at 3.30 in bright sunshine and in the presence, of a large number of people, having done the 55 miles from Whitby at an average speed of 9'01 knots. I took the Honorary Secretary for a short trip, and on the next day we did a trip of an hour with members of the Local Committee and Press representatives on board.

Altogether we were six days making the passage of 454 miles. We were actually at sea for 50| hours, and out- average speed was 8'94 knots. We had no rough weather to test the Boat, but the Coxswain and crew expressed themselves as more than satisfied with her.