TWO LIFE-BOATS IN SEARCH FOR YACHT Torbay, Devon. On the 27th September, 1962, an exercise with the Torbay life-boat Princess Alexandra of Kent had been arranged for seven o'clock in the evening, but at 6.41 the coastguard informed the coxswain that the Salcombe life-boat had been launched to go to the assistance of a small yacht, which was in distress three to four miles south-by-east of Prawle Point. The Torbay life-boat put out on exercise as arranged and while proceeding seawards from Berry Head helped to relay radiotelephone messages between the Salcombe life-boat and Niton radio.

Shortly afterwards it was learnt that the yacht had drifted into Start Bay, and the Torbay coxswain decided to help the Salcombe coxswain to find the yacht.

Close contact with Salcombe life-boat was maintained by radio-telephone.

Eventually the lighthouse keeper at Start Point saw the yacht four miles east-north-east of the point. The Torbay life-boat was then a mile and a half away, and she made for the position.

The coxswain fired two parachute flares and the yacht was found. The two people on board were very exhausted as the yacht had become unmanageable in the rough seas. They asked for a tow, but after a while the yacht became rather difficult to tow in the heavy seas. The yacht's crew then asked to be taken on board the life-boat. They were transferred with some difficulty and the second coxswain was put aboard the yacht. The life-boat reduced speed and the yacht was eventually taken safely into Brixham harbour. The life-boat reached her station at 11.40..