CURIOUS INCIDENT OFF SHERINGHAM Sheringham and Cromer, Norfolk. At about five o'clock on the afternoon of Thursday the 19th September, 1963, the Sheringham coxswain launched his crab boat to investigate a cabin cruiser, Duchess of Leith, apparently anchored off Sheringham. The owner told him he was making minor adjustments to the clutch. When asked if he required any help the owner of the boat said he could manage. The coxswain then asked if he was satisfied with his fuel and what course he was making.

The man replied that he was going south and asked the distance to Yarmouth.

The coxswain strongly advised him against going to Yarmouth and suggested he should make for Blakeney as the weather was not promising. The man agreed with this suggestion and was told that the warden of the bird sanctuary at Blakeney would pilot him in.

The coxswain again asked if he required an escort and was again turned down.

The coxswain then helped him raise and stow his anchor and the Duchess of Leith made off at about eight knots.

At 6.15 it was reported that the boat appeared to be out of control and travelling at high speed in circles. The lifeboat Frank and William Gates, on temporary duty at Sheringham, was launched at 6.40, but when she came up with the boat it was cruising at full throttle in circles. Owing to its speed the life-boat could not get alongside. As far as could be seen there was no one on board. A helicopter was called for and made a search all round the area without success. On hearing this the honorary secretary sent two men along the beach to give assistance should the Duchess of Leith's owner have swum ashore.

The helicopter made two attempts to get a man on board the casualty but owing to its speed and its erratic course each attempt failed. The coxswain decided that he must get a man on board the casualty and on the next circle allowed the Duchess of Leith to strike the life-boat amidships, but she swung off and rammed the life-boat again on her next circle. The impact brought the boat to a halt and the crew were able to get aboard her and make as thorough a search as was possible. There was no trace of the former occupant.

The fife-boat crew had to scramble back into the life-boat as the double ramming had badly damaged the Duchess of Lehh. She sank within minutes, but not before a line and buoy had been fixed to the anchor cable. The search for a survivor continued until nightfall, when the life-boat was recalled. The life-boat returned to Sheringham at nine o'clock with only super- ficial damage to her starboard fender.

The weather throughout the whole operation had been good with a gentle to moderate breeze from the north-east and choppy sea.

The Cromer No. 2 life-boat Harriot Dixon was also launched and carried out a search for the missing man without success..