OWNER OVERBOARD Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Norfolk. At 11.56 p.m. on 2gth July, 1965, two distress flares were reported to have been seen to the north-east and at three minutes after midnight on the 3oth the life-boat Louise Stephens was launched.

There was a strong south-westerly wind, a rough sea and the tide was ebbing. The life-boat made a search, firing parachute flares to illuminate the area and a sailing yacht burnt a red flare in reply. The lifeboat found the yacht with the owner on board a quarter of a mile south-east of Scroby Elbow buoy. Her sails had blown away and her engine had broken down.

Two members of the life-boat went aboard with a tow rope and in trying to make the rope fast the owner fell overboard.

The life-boat rescued him and then towed the yacht to harbour, arriving at 2.20 a.m..