Whitby, Yorkshire. On the morning of the 17th of February, 1958, three local fishing vessels were at sea. Later the weather deteriorated, and the vessels were informed by radio-telephone that the harbour bar was very dangerous.

They were advised to make for Scar- borough. One of the vessels, Successwas seen to proceed south towards Scarborough, but the other two, Pilot Me and Provider A, made for Whitby.

The life-boat Mary Ann Hepworth was launched at 12.2 to stand by at the harbour bar. There was a very rough sea, a moderate north-westerly gale was blowing and the tide was flooding.

The Pilot Me had her drogue carried away by a huge sea a hundred yards outside the piers, and when she crossed the bar she struck the east side bullnose of the pier and damaged her stem. One of her crew, a boy, was injured when he was thrown against the side of the wheelhouse. The vessel drifted safely to the harbour side of the bullnose, and she was able to reach the quay under her own power, although she was leaking badly. The fire service was called upon to keep the water under control until the vessel could be slipped, and the injured boy was taken to hospital. A little later the Provider A entered harbour, and she also had difficulty in crossing the bar, but she reached the quay safely. The life-boat returned to her station at 1.12. Re- wards to the crew, £8 15s. ; rewards to the helpers on shore, £1 16s..