Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.—At 11.10 on the morning- of the 1 st of August, 1956, the coastguard rang up to say that a vessel appeared to be aground on the Gunfleet Sands to the east-south-east of the coastguard station. At 11.25 the life-boat Sir Godfrey Baring was launched with the second coxswain in charge. The sea was rough, there was a moderate west-south-west wind, and the tide was ebbing. The life-boat made for the sands and four miles east- south-east of Clacton pier came up with the motor yacht Drofli, which had a crew of four. As the life-boat could not come alongside because the yacht was nearly high and dry, she anchored and veered down as close as possible. A helicopter of the R.A.F.

put a man aboard the yacht, but the yacht's crew did not wish to abandon her. The owner asked if the life-boat would stand by because of a gale warning, and this was agreed. By three o'clock the wind had reached gale force, and on the rising tide the life-boat approached the Drofli through broken water. The yacht was driving further over the sand. At the fourth attempt the life-boat crew passed a line aboard and took the yacht in tow.

The life-boat made for Harwich, but the weather worsened and the Drofli became unmanageable. The life-boat rescued the four people, cut the yacht adrift and landed the rescued at Harwich at seven o'clock. The life- boat remained there for the night until the weather moderated. She was taken back to her station the next morning.

The Drofli sank.—Rewards to the crew, £30 19s.; rewards to the helpers on shore, etc., £5 4s..