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Southern Cross and Helga

Howth, Co. Dublin. At 5.50 on the afternoon of the 28th of June, 1958, a competitor in a local sailing race told the honorary secretary on coming ashore that another yacht in the race had been dismasted and might need help. At 6.20 the life-boat R.P.L. put out in a rough sea. A fresh south-easterly wind was blowing, and the tide was flooding. The life-boat found the yacht Southern Cross about two and a half miles north-north-west of the harbour. The Southern Cross was sailing slowly towards Howth, and the life-boat escorted her until she was in easy reach of the harbour. Shortly afterwards the coxswain was hailed by a nearby yacht and on going alongside was informed that a second boat had been dismasted some two hours earlier.

The life-boat searched the area and found the yacht Helga being towed in by another competitor. Both boats were escorted to within safe distance of the harbour, and the life-boat reached her moorings at 8.10. Rewards to the crew, £6 ; rewards to the helpers on shore £1. 16s..