On the afternoon of the 16th February, the coxswain and the shore signalman, who were at the pier head, saw two barges in difficulties midway between Sea Reach buoy No. 3 and Jenkin buoy. One barge was driving hard astern. A whole W.S.W. gale was blowing, with a heavy sea. The motor life-boat Greater London was launched at 4.10 P.M. and found the barges to be the Sunrise and the Afternoon, each with a crew of two. The Afternoon did not want any help, and the life- boat went on to the Sunrise, which had had nearly all her sails blown away.

As she went alongside, the Sunrise sheered into her, causing slight damage to her starboard side. She towed the Sunrise out of the fairway into the Yantlet. Before returning to her station, at 7.10 P.M., she saw that all barges anchored on the flats were safe.

Owing to the very heavy sea she could not be rehoused until next day.— Rewards, £15 9s..