Early on the after- noon of the 7th December the Coast- guard reported that a motor yacht west of the jetty appeared to be in distress.

A strong N.E. breeze was blowing with a heavy sea, and hail showers. The Motor Life-boat Lord Southborough (Civil Service No. 1) was launched at 2.30 P.M., and found the yacht—the Thelma, of Southend—ashore. She had been bound, with three men aboard, from Southend to Ramsgate, but had become unmanageable, and was leaking.

Two Life-boatmen were put aboard her, and then the Life-boat towed her into deep water, and eventually into har- bour. But for the Life-boat's help the yacht and her crew would have been lost. The Life-boat arrived back at her station at 5.30 P.M., but could not be rehoused on account of the heavy seas.—Property Salvage Case..