Whitby, Yorkshire. At eleven o'clock on the morning of the 7th December, 1961, the second coxswain discussed with the honorary secretary the possible danger to the fishing fleet at sea, as the weather was growing worse, and it was decided to launch the life-boat Mary Anne Hepworth at 11.55. There was a light south-westerly wind and a rough sea. The tide was half ebb. The life-boat stood by the harbour bar while seven fishing vessels returned safely to har- bour. She reached her station at 3.55..