Plymouth, Devon. At 7.30 on the evening of the 3rd August, 1961, the coastguard informed the coxswain that a yacht near Mewstone had fired distress signals. At 7.44, when the life-boat Thomas Forehead and Mary Rowse was launched, a gentle south-westerly breeze was blowing and there was a slight sea.

When the life-boat reached the scene she found that a Royal Air Force speed launch had taken the disabled boat, which was the fishing boat Mary Anne of St. Ives, in tow. The life-boat escorted both boats to Batten break- water and then returned to her station, arriving at 9.15..