Exmouth, Devon. At 12.55 early on the morning of the 13th of May, 1959, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that orange-coloured lights resembling flames had been seen three to four miles south-east of Orcombe Point. The life-boat Maria Noble was launched at 1.19 in a slight sea with a moderate north-north-westerly wind blowing and an ebb tide. She made for the position given, but visibility was bad and she did not find the casualty immediately. The casualty was in fact the yacht Dona of Exmouth, whose engines had broken down, and her crew on seeing the life-boat's lights managed to restart her engine and headed straight for the life-boat. She hit the life-boat amidships and damaged her slightly.

The yacht had a crew of three, who had been adrift for over nine hours, and they asked for a tow as they had lost their anchor and their engine was continually breaking down. The life-boat towed the yacht into Exmouth dock and reached her station at 3.10. Rewards to the crew, £6 ; rewards to the helpers on shore, £7 18s..