COXSWAIN David Cox, of Wells, Norfolk, has been accorded the thanks of the Institution on vellum for an attempted service to the yacht Kiskadee on the night of 29th-3oth August, 1964.

A report that a yacht was burning a red flare half a mile west of the entrance of Blakeney harbour came to Coxswain Cox from the Cley coastguard at 8.21 p.m. Nine minutes later the maroons were fired. There was a north-westerly wind with a heavy swell and moderate visibility. It was two hours after low water.

The Wells life-boat Cecil Paine, one of the 35-foot 6-inch Liverpool type, was launched at 8.45. Half an hour later she approached the Kiskadee, a small auxiliary sloop, which was aground on a sandbank about half a mile west of Blakeney Point. She was lying beam to in a confused sea which was washing over her. There was a heavy breaking surf and the night was very dark.

COULD NOT REACH HER Coxswain Cox decided to anchor and veer down on to the yacht. He therefore tripped and recovered the drogue on turning head to sea, and let go the anchor. The full length of the cable was paid out but the lifeboat was still unable to close the yacht.

The anchor was hove up, but the cat rope fouled the starboard propeller.

This was quickly cleared and a second attempt was made to reach the yacht, but this too was unsuccessful. Once again the life-boat tried to close the yacht, but this time she hit the bottom.

A parachute flare was fired, which showed that the yacht had now been washed over a sand bar by a freak of tide into comparatively smooth water and that she was in no immediate danger.

MADE FOUR ATTEMPTS When the tide rose the life-boat soon came off the bank and she made a fourth attempt to reach the yacht. As in the earlier attempts the life-boat was working in heavy breaking surf which was continually sweeping over her from stem to stern. Once again she was unable to reach the yacht.

Meanwhile another boat manned by Mr. S. Long, who is a member of the inshore rescue scheme, had also put out, and this boat succeeded in taking the Kiskadee in tow.

The life-boat stood by while this was being done and finally reached her station at 2.30 a.m.

In addition to the award of thanks on vellum to Coxswain David Cox, vellum service certificates were issued to other members of the Wells crew: Acting Second Coxswain John Cox, Acting Bowman A. Warner, Mechanic Albert Court, Assistant Mechanic Alan Cox and crew members D. Case and A. Fulford..