Lytham-St. Anne's, Lancashire. At 8.55 on the evening of the 28th of March, 1961, the coastguard passed on to the honorary secretary a report from the Preston pilot cutter that the Nor- wegian cargo vessel Christian was aground on Salters Bank and pounding heavily. There was a strong westerly wind at the time with a moderate sea.

At 9.21 the life-boat Sarah Townsend Porritt was launched around high water.

She proceeded down river, remaining in radio contact with the pilot cutter. Be- fore the two boats reached her the Christian refloated on the rising tide.

She continued under her own power to Preston and was escorted by the life- boat as far as Lytham. The life-boat re- turned to her station at eleven o'clock..