SOUTHERN DISTRICT Eastney, Hampshire - At 3.10 p.m.

on i4th May, 1966, a member of the IRB crew informed the honorary secretary that a sailing dinghy had capsized off the Royal Marine Barracks. At 3.15 the IRB was launched in a moderate south westerly breeze and corresponding sea. The tide was flooding. The IRB took the two crew members of the sailing dinghy Tiffy on board and the dinghy in tow. A helicopter winchman tried twice to lift the capsized dinghy's mast but the dinghy rolled over. The IRB returned to her station at 4.25. At 4.27 the IRB escorted another sailing dinghy to the beach, finally returning to her station at 4.50 p.m.

DUNKIRK MAN At 3.46 p.m. on i5th May, 1966, the honorary secretary was informed that a dinghy was in difficulties on the East Winner. At 3.48 the IRB was launched in a slight south westerly breeze and calm sea. The tide was flooding. The IRB crew found the dinghy swamped and a man in the water. After taking the man on board the crew salvaged the dinghy's gear and engine and then emptied the dinghy and took her in tow. The IRB returned to her station at 4.15 p.m. where the man was given hot soup and dry clothes. The rescued man was one of the troops taken off by Ramsgate life-boat during the evacuation of Dunkirk. He made a donation to the Institution's funds.

194 Littlestone-on-Sea, Kent - At 1.40 p.m. on 22nd May, 1966, a crew member informed the honorary secretary that a small pram dinghy was in difficulties three quarters of a mile to seaward. She had dragged her anchor in the wind and tidal conditions and drifted into exposed waters. Her engine had also failed and she was in danger of capsizing. The IRB was launched at 1.41 in a strong south westerly wind and a choppy sea. It was one hour after high water. She took the dinghy Scud in tow and beached her by the IRB station at 2.20 p.m.

Eastbourne, Sussex - At 4 p.m. on 29th May, 1966, when the IRB was on exercise, a capsized dinghy was sighted.

Her crew of two were in the water and appeared to be in difficulties. There was a fresh easterly wind and a moderate swell.

They were quickly rescued by the IRB and put ashore. The IRB took a fresh crew for the dinghy and stood by while the sailing club rescue boat towed the dinghy ashore.

SOUTH-WEST DISTRICT Bude, Cornwall - At 12.15 P-m. on 30th May, 1966, the IRB was on exercise with a partly trained crew when she received a message that a bather was in difficulties half a mile north west of Bude.

She proceeded immediately in a moderate to fresh north easterly wind and a calm sea. The tide was at half flood. On reaching the casualty - a thirteen year old girl who was unconscious - one of the crew of the IRB left the boat and entered shoulder-deep water approximately 100 yards from the shore. He carried the casualty ashore, at the same time administering mouth-to-mouth resuscitation as he went. Once ashore the beach patrol assisted in resuscitation until the ambulance and a doctor arrived. The patient was then taken to hospital and recovered.

The IRB returned to her station at 12.30 p.m.

Porthcawl, Glamorganshire - At 4.20 p.m. on ist May, 1966, the crew of the IRB heard a police radio message that four youths were stranded on a rock. The IRB was launched at 4.21 in a light southerly wind and a moderate ground sea. It was almost high water. They found two girls and two young men on a rock, but could not get close to them. A member of the boat's crew swam and helped them one at a time to the beach. He then swam back to the boat which returned to her station at 5.20 p.m. A letter of appreciation was sent to the crew member who swam to help the youths.

NORTH-WEST DISTRICT Pwllheli, Caernarvonshire - At 7 p.m. on May 29th, 1966, flares were reported in Aberdaron Bay. The IRB, which was launched at 7.5 in a calm sea, proceeded to Aberdaron and found the auxiliary yacht Perichole with engine trouble. The Perichole, with three persons on board, was taken in tow to Abersoch, and the IRB reached her station at 10.45 P-ni.

YACHT AGROUND At 1.40 p.m. on 2ist May, 1966, a yacht was reported in difficulties one mile east of Llanbedrog Point and about three miles south west of the station. The IRB was launched at 1.45 in a strong south westerly wind and a rough sea. It was two and a half hours before low water. She found the dragon class yacht Miranda aground on the mussel beds. Having anchored the casualty to prevent her being swept on to the rocks, the IRB took the two-man crew off the Miranda and landed them at the station at 3.15 p.m.

SOUTH-EAST DISTRICT Southend-on-Sea, Essex - At 2.37 p.m. on 22nd March, 1966, a dinghy was reported in difficulties four miles north east of the station. The IRB was launched at 2.45 in a light westerly breeze and moderate sea. The tide was ebbing.

After taking the crew member on board, the life-boat took the boat in tow. She returned to her station at 3.30 p.m.

Harwich, Essex - At 2.43 p.m. on 30th May, 1966, a small sailing dinghy was reported to have capsized one mile off Dovercourt beach. The IRB launched at 2.48 in a moderate east north easterly breeze and moderate sea. The tide was ebbing. The dinghy was found waterlogged with her two-man crew in the water alongside. After taking them on board, the IRB crew anchored the dinghy.

They reached their station at 3.6 p.m. The rescued people were supplied with dry clothing by the crew on arrival at Harwich.

NORTH-EAST DISTRICT Scarborough, Yorkshire - At 7.10 p.m. on 29th May, 1966, a tractor driver saw a capsized canoe with two persons clinging to it in broken water one mile south west of the life-boathouse. They were trying to make for the beach but due to the state of the tide were unable to make much progress. The IRB was, therefore, launched at 7.20 in a north north easterly breeze and corresponding sea. The dinghy was towed to the beach and the two crew members landed. The IRB returned to her station at 8 p.m.

See page 196 for other IRB launches.

February Cromer, Norfolk - At 11.30 a.m. on ist February, 1966, the master of the ex- Admiralty motor fishing vessel Universal Dipper, which had grounded 200 yards east of Runton Gap, asked the coxswain if the life-boat would stand-by while attempts were made to refloat the vessel.

There was a light south easterly wind with a smooth sea. The No. 2 life-boat William Henry and Mary King launched at 11.45 on a flooding tide, and, on reaching her, passed a line from a tug to the Universal Dipper. The tug refloated the Universal Dipper and towed the vessel, escorted by the life-boat, to Gt. Yarmouth, arriving at 9 o'clock..