Bembridge, Isle of Wight.—At 1.10 early on the morning of the 30th of August, 1953, the Foreland coastguard telephoned that the Nab pilot cutter had reported that a yacht needed help three miles north-north-east of Nab Tower. The life-boat Jesse Lumb was launched ten minutes later. The sea was rough, with a fresh westerly breeze blowing. The life-boat found the yacht Marylda, towed her in, and moored her to a buoy near the life- boathouse at 3.35. At 1.45 the pilot cutter had reported seeing red rockets in St. Helen's Roads, and a shore-boat put out. At 3.45 the life-boat was launched again and found the eight- ton yacht Ciris, of Colchester, in tow of a motor vessel off Warner Light Buoy. As she was too heavy for the shore-boat, the life-boat took her over from the motor vessel and towed the Ciris to Bembridge, arriving at 4.30.

Twenty minutes later the coastguard rang up again and said that the Panamanian steamer Neptunia had wirelessed that she had taken in tow the motor yacht Chinta, which had broken down. The steamer asked if the yacht could be taken ashore, and the life-boat was launched again at 4.55. She found the Neptunia off the Nab tower, towed the Chinta to Portsmouth, and reached her station again at 9.15. Rewards, 1st service, £9 19s. Qd.; 2nd service, £7 17s. Qd.; 3rd service, £16 13s..