Exmouth, Devon.—At 9.30 on the night of the 28th of September, 1957, the coastguard telephoned that three red flares had been seen eight to ten miles south of Lyme Regis, and that an R.A.F. rescue launch was putting out to search. At 9.48 the life-boat Maria Noble was launched in a slight swell.

There was a gentle breeze and the tide was flooding. The life-boat searched the area for over four hours but found nothing and began to put back to her station. Near the Exmouth Fairway buoy the coxswain saw red flares being fired from Orcombe Ledges. The life- boat made for the position and found the sloop West Wind, of Lyme Regis, aground. Her engine had broken down and she had been driven on to the ledges when her anchor had failed to hold. She had a crew of four.

The life-boat took the sloop in tow and reached her station at 7.40.— Rewards to the crew, £17 175.; rewards to the helpers on shore, £11 4s..