SIXTEEN SCOUTS RESCUED Exmouth, Devon. At 7.35 p.m. on 25th July, 1965, the honorary secretary heard that Niton radio station had received a message from the motor fishing vessel Bien that she had engine trouble and was steering badly ten miles northeast of Torquay. The life-boat Michael Stephens put out at 7.55 in a light westerly breeze and a moderate sea. The tide was ebbing. Nothing could be found at the position given and because of interference the Bien could not be heard on the lifeboat's radio telephone.

At 9.40 the life-boat saw a flare but on searching the position found nothing.

This happened several times, but the vessel was eventually found two miles south of Lyme Regis at 12.12 a.m. She was escorted towards Exmouth, but because of the Bien's steering trouble the coxswain decided to take her in tow and the life-boat's bowman was placed aboard her to help. The casualty was eventually tied up to the dock at 0.3 a.m. The Bien owned by the Newport Sea Scouts had on board 16 sea scouts and three adults..