FISHING BOAT ESCORTED OVER BAR Wbitby, Yorkshire. At 9.10 on the morning of the 16th January, 1963, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that the weather was likely to become worse, and that an easterly gale was forecast as imminent. Eight fishing boats were still at sea, and at 10.10 the life-boat Mary Ann Hepworth was launched. There was a strong breeze blowing from east-by-north, the sea was rough, and the tide was ebbing.

The Scarborough life-boat was at sea escorting fishing boats, and about noon she reached Whitby with one of these boats, the Rachel. The Whitby life-boat escorted them over the harbour bar and then put to sea to warn five local fishing boats of the conditions on the bar. The life-boat lay off the bar for over an hour while the tide made and then returned to her station, arriving at 4.12..