Boulmer, Northumberland. At 8.23 on the morning of the 16th of January, 1961, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that the seine-net fishing vessel Halcyon was lying stopped a mile east of Craster harbour. A light east-north-easterly wind was blowing, and the sea was smooth. The weather was overcast. At 8.58 the life-boat Clarissa Langdon was launched at low water. On , caching the Halcyon she found that the fishing vessel's engine had stopped because of faulty lubrication.

The Halcyon was in a very dangerous position and was anchored with a very thin and worn anchor rope. One of her crew was below very ill. The life-boat towed the Halcyon to Amble and then teturned to her station, arriving at 3.20.