SOUTH-WEST ENGLAND Clovelly, Devon. At 2.15 a.m. on nth October, 1965, the coastguard reported that a ship in distress had fired rockets north-west of Hartland Point. The lifeboat William Cantrell Ashley was launched in a moderate easterly breeze and a moderate sea, one hour after low water.

At 4 o'clock the life-boat went alongside the fishing smack El Cid, which was making water in her engine room despite the efforts of her crew. The casualty was taken in tow by the life-boat to Clovelly pool. The life-boat reached her station at 5.10 a.m..