LIFEBOAT MAGAZINE ARCHIVE

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M.F.V. Wakefield

FISHING VESSEL AGROUND IN FOG Whitby, Yorkshire. At 7.15 on the evening of Friday the 5th of July, 1963, the honorary secretary was told that the m.f.v. Wakefield was ashore in dense fog a mile and a half north of Whitby.

The life-boat Rosa Woodd and Phyllis Lunn, on temporary duty at the station, was launched at 7.30 in a light air and slight sea three and a half hours after high water. The life-boat arrived at the casualty where she found that another fishing vessel had laid out the Wakeful's kedge anchor. A towline was streamed and buoyed in preparation for high water.

As there was nothing the life-boat could do until high water she returned to Whitby harbour. At 11.45 the life-boat returned to the casualty to help pass a towline to a motor fishing vessel which was going to tow the Wakeful when she refloated. After this was done the lifeboat guided the vessels through the thick fog back to Whitby harbour. The life-boat returned to her station at 1.50 in the morning..