TRAWLER PULLED CLEAR Lowestoft, Suffolk. At 10.15 a-m- °n 20th February, 1965, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that the trawler Sailfin of North Shields had grounded on Newcombe Sands. The lifeboat Frederick Edward Crick proceeded at 10.25 m a north-easterly gale and a rough sea. It was two hours before high water.

The life-boat reached the Sailfin and after four attempts, a tow line was secured to the trawler which had a crew of nine who did not wish to be taken Off. The trawler could not be pulled clear of the sands and as it was almost high water, the life-boat stood by to make a further attempt.

In the meantime the tug Richard Lee Barber arrived but being unable to get a line to the Sailfin because of shallow water and rough sea, asked the life-boat to assist in passing a line. This she did and the trawler was pulled clear stern first and towed into the North Roads when the tow line was changed to forward.

The skipper of the trawler then reported that his rudder was jammed and the lifeboat stood by to assist and to relay messages from the tug to the trawler as the tug did not have radio telephony. On attempting to enter the harbour, the Sailfin grounded a second time on a shingle bank alongside the North Pier and six of her crew were taken off by the life-saving apparatus team. It was now one hour to low water and the life-boat and tug stood by in the inner harbour when helped by the tug and a favourable wind and tide, the trawler was safely eased along the shingle bank and round the end of the pier into harbour. The life-boat reached her station at 11.5 p.m..