YACHT AGROUND At 4.55 p.m. on 3rd April, 1966, the coastguard told the honorary secretary that a yacht had been reported to be aground on the Pye Sands, about half a mile outside the mouth of the river. The honorary secretary then telephoned a man whose house overlooks the sands and he confirmed that the yacht was high on the sands, lying abeam the wind and well on her side. He then went with the coxswain and district officer of H.M.

Coastguard to a point where they could see the casualty which was lying on a lee shore, with two anchors laid fore and aft.

The life-boat Edian Courtauld put out at 6 p.m. in a strong north-north-easterly wind and a moderate sea. It was one hour after low water. She came up with the casualty, which was the auxiliary yacht Souris of Maldon with a crew of four on board. Owing to lack of water the lifeboat was unable to get alongside, but a line was fired to her. At 7.23 the life-boat started to tow her and arrived at Harwich at 8.17. A berth was found for the yacht alongside the Trinity House vessel Vestal..