Whitby, Yorkshire. At approximately 10.25 a.m. on i6th January, 1965, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that several local fishing cobles were at sea in worsening conditions. The lifeboat Mary Ann Hepworth was launched at 10.30 a.m. in a moderate to fresh southerly breeze and a rough sea, and proceeded towards the area where Venture, a coble with known defects, was thought to have been fishing. The coxswain inquired as to the other vessels and was informed they were making harbour.

The Venture, with a crew of two, was met 5 miles north of Whitby and as the vessel was still having trouble with her rudder the life-boat escorted her into harbour which she reached at i p.m..