Holyhead, Anglesey and Porthdinllaen, Caernarvonshire. At 6 a.m. on 20th December, 1963, the coastguard informed the Porthdinllaen honorary secretary thata French fishingvesselwas leaking badly thirty miles west of Bardsey Island.

There was a moderate north-easterly breeze with a slight sea. The tide was ebbing.

The Porthdinllaen life-boat Charles Henry Ashley launched at 6.30, but about one hour later the coxswain received a radiotelephone message that the trawler Francoise Delille had sunk and that her crew had been rescued by the U.S.

motor vessel, American Builder, which was proceeding to Holyhead to land the survivors. The Porthdinllaen life-boat returned to her station at nine o'clock.

The life-boat J.J.K.S.W. on temporary duty at Holyhead was launched at 8.40 and went to a position six miles south-westby- west of South Stack to meet the American Builder. The eight survivors were transferred to the life-boat and landed at Holyhead, where the honorary medical advisor was in attendance, because one of the survivors was suffering from shock.

The life-boat arrived back at her station at 11.30..