Bembridge, Isle of Wight.—At 12.22 on the afternoon of the 29th of July, 1956, the Foreland coastguard reported that a yacht was making distress sig- nals off St. Helen's Fort. The life- boat Jesse Lumb, which had just returned from an attempted service, in which her help had not been needed, put out immediately. The sea was rough, there was a moderate to fresh south-westerly gale, and the tide was half flood. The life-boat came up with the yachtCardenia and took off her crew of two. She landed them at her station at 12.50, and two minutes later she put to sea again.

At 12.45 the coastguard had reported that a yacht was ashore near Hayling Island, and the life-boat searched with the help of Shackleton aircraft of Coastal Command, which dropped flares to indicate the position of the casualty. In spite of of the very bad weather the life-boat managed to tow the yacht Falcon, with her crew of four, to Portsmouth harbour. She then returned to her station, arriving at five o'clock. The owners made a gift to the crew.—Rewards for the three services: to the crew, £17 9s.; to the helpers on shore, £3 5s..