St. Helier, Jersey-At io.2ia.m. on 8th March, 1966, the duty harbour officer received a Mayday message via Jersey radio from the tug Duke of Normandy saying that she had struck a rock near Les Vascelius on the Les Minquiers reef. The life-boat Elizabeth Rippon set off at 10.32 in a light easterly breeze and a calm sea.

There was fog with a visibility of 250 yards. The life-boat went to the given position but in the meantime the tug had floated off the rocks and had anchored.

Although she was not leaking she still requested the life-boat to stand by. A fishing boat the Betabob, helped to guide the tug out of the reef and into deep water, and the life-boat on reaching the position escorted the tug back to St. Helier, returning to her station at 2.30 p.m..