Hastings, Sussex. At 11.55 on the morning of the 1st July, 1961, the coast- guard informed the honorary secretary that there had been an explosion, followed by fire, on board a vessel about two and a half miles off the Fairlight estate. There were light airs and the sea was smooth. At 12.5 the life-boat M.T.C. was launched at high water. She found the yacht Lady Alice of Rye completely wrecked. The life- boat searched the area and found the only person who had been on board the yacht hanging on to his upturned dinghy. He was hauled aboard the life- boat, debris was collected, and it was decided to take what remained of the casualty in tow to the shore. When the tow was made fast, however, the yacht began to sink, and after the tow had been cast off the Lady Alice went to the bottom. The life-boat then returned to her station with the dinghy, arriving at 1.43. The survivor was given food and clothing by the brother of the second coxswain of the life-boat and was later taken to Rye Harbour, where his car was waiting..