THERE were exceptionally heavy gales at the end of May and the beginning of June, 1938. Thirty-two life-boats were launched on service during the five days from 29th May to 2nd June, the majority on the south-east and south coasts, and they rescued 36 lives.

For these launches the Institution paid rewards to the crews and launchers amounting to over £404.

The outstanding services of these five days were at Southend-on-Sea, and Clacton-on-Sea. The Southend services will be described in the next issue of The Lije-boat.

Four German yachts taking part in a race from Heligoland to Burnham- on-Crouch, Essex, were caught in these gales when near the English coast.

The first of them was the Windspiel, of Hamburg, which met a W.S.W. gale, with a very heavy sea, off Dover, on the night of May 29th. It was just about midnight when the Dover coxswain, visiting the camber to see if all was well, saw a rocket go up. The motor life- boat Sir William Hillary put out and found the Windspiel close inshore in tow of a local motor boat. The life- boat escorted them in. Twice the yacht broke from her tow, but each time, by the light of the life-boat's searchlight, the motor boat got her in tow again.

Three Launches at Clacton.

On the same day, in the early morn- ing, the coastguard at Clacton-on-Sea reported distress signals four miles off CJacton Pier. A S.W. gale was blow- ing, with a very heavy sea. The motor life-boat Edward Z. Dresden was launched at 3.40, and an hour and twenty minutes later found the yacht Westwind, of Bremen, with a crew of five on board. She was dragging her anchor. The life-boat towed her to Harwich, arriving at 8.45 in the morn- ing, and returned to her station at 6.40 •in the evening.

Two hours later she was out again.

This time to the yacht Hamburg.

The Royal Corinthian Yacht Club had reported that the yacht had gone aground at the mouth of the River Crouch. After the life-boat had put out a message came that the yacht had refloated, and the life-boat was recalled by wireless, returning to her station at 1.30 the next morning.

Two days later, on 2nd June, the Clacton-on-Sea motor life-boat was again called out, this tune to the yacht Das Wappen von Bremen, of Bremen. She had been overtaken by a whole S.W. gale, with a very heavy sea, about three and a half miles south of Clacton Pier. Her sails were carried away and she had lost both her anchors.

Her flares were seen and reported by the coastguard at 3.42 in the morning, and at 4.5 the life-boat put out. It was the worst weather the crew had known for twenty years. An hour and ten minutes after launching the life-boat found the yacht drifting.

With great difficulty in the very heavy seas she got a rope aboard her and took her in tow. She towed her to Harwich, arriving there at 8.45 A.M.

The Rewards.

It was a fine service in exceptionally bad weather, and the Institution has made the following rewards: To Coxswain CHARLES R. ELLIS, the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum; To the coxswain and each of the seven members of the crew, a reward of £1 in addition to the ordinary scale reward of £1 5s.

Standard rewards to the crew, £815s.; additional rewards to the crew, £8; total rewards, £20 10s. 2d.

Rewards to Clacton-on-Sea for the service to the Westtvind, £24 13s. 4d.

Rewards to Clacton-on-Sea for the launch to the Hamburg, £11 6s.

Rewards to Dover for the service to the Windspiel (partly permanent paid crew), £2 10s.

Total rewardsjfor the services to the German yachts, £58 19s. 6d.

Through the Royal Ocean Yacht Club the Institution received a letter of appreciation from the German yacht- ing organization of the North Sea, and £30 from German insurance companies, in gratitude for the help of the Clacton- on-Sea motor life-boat to the yachts Westwind and Dos Wappen von Bremen, was sent to the crew..