Clacton-on-Sea, Essex. At 7.43 on the morning of the 14th November, 1961, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that an unidentified coaster was aground near Barrow no. 6 buoy and was believed to need help. A strong north-east was blowing with a very rough sea. At 8.24 the life-boat Sir Godfrey Baring put to sea from Brightlingsea, where she had remained overnight after a previous service, as weather conditions had prevented her from returning to her station. The tide was ebbing. The life-boat passed through the Spitway and Barrow Deep to no. 6 buoy, and found the motor vessel Krutynia of Szczecin hard on the sandbank with seas breaking all over her.

When she was within a hundred yards of the Krutynia two heavy seas hit the life-boat broadside on, nearly capsizing her, but she cleared herself and settled on an even keel. Shallow water prevented the life-boat from approaching nearer to the Krutynia, and because of language difficulties no communication could be established. The life-boat continued to stand by, waves fourteen to fifteen feet in height making conditions in the shallow water extremely treacherous.

At 12.15 the tug Napia from London arrived to give help if needed. Shortly afterwards the Krutynia refloated on the tide and continued on her way.

Because of the weather the life-boat could not have been rehoused at her station, and she returned to Brightling- sea, which she reached at 4.15. She remained there until the 18th Novem- ber, by which time the doors of the boathouse, which had been damaged by the heavy seas, had been repaired..