Blyth, Northumberland. At 2 p.m.

on 15th May, 1965, the new Blyth IRB launched on exercise for the purpose of training crew members. During the course of the exercise, which was held at high water in a moderate southerly breeze and slight sea, a person on the pier signalled to the crew that a yacht with two people on board had capsized one mile east of the pier. A helicopter, which was also on exercise, attempted to rescue the crew but abandoned the attempt when the IRB arrived. The IRB towed the yacht with the two occupants on board to the harbour and returned to her station at 4 p.m..