ESCORT FOR COBLE IN ROUGH SEA Hartlepool, Co. Durham. At one o'clock on the afternoon of the 26th December, 1962, the harbour master informed the coxswain that a local fishing coble, Buena Fortuna, appeared to be in difficulties off Crimdon Dene. The life-boat The Princess Royal (Civil Service No. 7) was launched at 1.20 in a strong north-easterly wind and a rough sea. It was two hours before high water.

The life-boat found the coble with a crew of three two miles north of Hartlepool and escorted her in deteriorating weather to the harbour. The life-boat reached her station at 2.20..