Bembridge, Isle of Wight.—At 11.40 on the morning of the 24th of July, 1954, the Foreland coastguard telephoned that a yacht had been reported in difficulties on the Chichester harbour bar. At 11.49 the life-boat Jesse Lumb was launched. The sea was rough, a moderate south-westerly breeze was blowing, and it was low water. The life-boat found the sailing yacht Black Adder, with a crew of two, bumping badly on the eastern side of the harbour. Her boom was broken, her mainsail split and her anchor was dragging. The life-boat came as near to her as she could, and a life-boatman went overboard and swam to the yacht with a breeches buoy, but the yacht's crew would not leave her.

The yacht was in a dangerous position two hundred yards off shore and the life-boat stood by her. The crew and the life-boatman were later taken ashore by the Selsey coastguard. The life-boat returned to her station, arriving at 6.10.—Rewards, £19 2s. 6d..