Selsey and Bognor (Sussex).

On 2nd November, 1930, at 10.30 in the morning, the Selsey and Bognor Motor Life-boat was launched, as news had been received that a vessel was in difficulties to the west of Selsey Bill. A W.S.W. gale was blowing, with hard squalls of wind and rain. A heavy sea was running and the weather was misty.

After the Life-boat had passed round the Bill and the neighbouring shoals, she found the yacht Lucy B., of Rye, in broken water, in a small bay formed by two shoals, " The Streets " and " The Hounds." She was on a dead lee shore in the full force of the gale.

The yacht had carried away some gear, and the two men on board her had been unable to start the auxiliary engine. They had let go their anchor as they got near land, but it would not hold ; the yacht drifted rapidly, and, as the Life-boat came in sight, the cable parted and the two men ware just about to make a desperate effort to reach the shore by swimming. The yacht was then little more than a quarter of a milefrom the shore. To those on shore it seemed impossible for the men on the yacht to be rescued. She was in little more than six feet of water, with a whole gale blowing. The • seas were going clean over the Life-boat; though so close in, she was at times invisible ; and those on shore expected to see her capsize. But the Coxswain, without hesitation, took her into the breakers and ran alongside the yacht. One of the two men succeeded in jumping into her. Then the yacht sheered off.

Twice more the Life-boat attempted to get alongside, but the water was so shallow that it was impossible. Then she tried to get a line and buoy to the yacht. This succeeded. The man on board was able to get hold of the buoy, and the Crew hauled him through the water in the buoy and got him on board.

The Life-boat was then so near to the shore that she had to go astern before she could turn. She reached her Station again at 12.15, but it was impossible, with the sea running, to take the Lifeboat up the Slipway, so she was secured to her moorings, and the Crew and the rescued men came off in a shore boat, which, in itself, was no easy task.

This was a service in which great skill and seamanship were shown by the Coxswain and great courage by the whole Crew. To Coxswain Frederick Barnes the Institution has awarded its Bronze Medal, and to each member of the Crew its Thanks inscribed on Vellum.

Additional monetary awards were also made to the Coxswain and Crew, a Letter of Thanks was sent to the Assistant Honorary Secretary, Mr. J. E.

Francis, and a Letter was also sent to the Board of Trade commending the Station Officer of Coastguard. He had been the first to give the alarm, having gone, while off duty, to see if all was well to the west of the Bill, which was out of sight of the look-out position.

The Institution received a letterfrom Mr. William Thornton, " late mate of the Lucy B." enclosing a donation in gratitude for his rescue..