SOUTHERN DISTRICT Torbay, Devon - At 3.35 p.m. on ist April, 1967, it was learned that a sailing dinghy had capsized off Paignton. The IRB was launched at 3.47 in a moderate to fresh south by westerly wind and a slight sea. It was low water. She proceeded towards Paignton head but was unable to find anything in that area so she moved to the Torquay side of the bay. A dinghy with an outboard motor was also search- ing for the casualty. After some time the IRB found the capsized dinghy with two men sitting astride. They had been unable to right the dinghy, which had drifted up as far as Meadfoot, and both men were suffering from cold and exposure. They were taken aboard the IRB whose crew helped them right the dinghy. She was then taken in tow. The men were landed at Torquay and the IRB returned to her station at 5.5.

Poole, Dorset - At 4.45 a.m. on i6th April, 1967, a local tug master informed the honorary secretary that a motor boat was stranded outside the harbour entrance.

The tug and pilot boat were unable to go alongside, due to the shallow water. The IRB was launched at 4.55 in a gentle north easterly breeze and a smooth sea.

The tide was flooding. The IRB came up with the motor boat Two Ways and took off the four people on board. She returned to her station at 6.45.

SOUTH WEST DISTRICT The Mumbles, Glamorganshire - At 11.30 a.m. on ist April, 1967, it was reported that two men were in the water from a capsized dinghy one mile north of the IRB station. The IRB was launched at 11.33 in a moderate sea and a moderate north easterly breeze. The two men were taken aboard and landed at the West Cross beach, where they were taken to hospital. The IRB then returned to the dinghy and brought her back to the IRB station, arriving at 12.30 p.m.

Port Talbot, Glamorganshire - At about 12.10 p.m. on i5th April, 1967, the IRB crew saw a sailing dinghy in diffi- culties one mile west of the station. The IRB was launched immediately in a gentle northerly breeze and slight sea.

The tide was ebbing. The IRB came up with the sailing dinghy Sea Bee with one occupant. The halyards had been carried away and the sail could not be hoisted.

The IRB took the dinghy in tow to Aberavon beach and returned to her station at 12.45.

Holybead, Anglesey - At 12.1 p.m.

on 26th April, 1967, it was learned that a small boat was in difficulties half a mile east of Breakwater light. The IRB was launched at 12.8 in a fresh south westerly breeze and a slight sea. The tide was ebbing. The small boat with two people on board could not be rowed ashore against the wind and tide. The crew were embarked and the IRB towed their boat to harbour. The IRB returned to her station at 12.30.

SCOTTISH DISTRICT North Berwick, East Lothian - At 3 p.m. on 29th April, 1967, while under- going training, the IRB went to the assis- tance of a sailing dinghy which had been dismasted and was in danger of being washed on to the Platcock rocks. There was a strong westerly breeze and a moderate sea. The tide was flooding. The IRB towed the dinghy with two people on board to the beach and carried on training until 3.15 when all dinghies preparing for a race returned to harbour.

Kinghorn, Fife - At about 7.45 p.m.

on ist April, 1967, information was given that a yacht was in difficulties off Aber- dour about five miles west of the station.

The IRB was launched at 7.55 in a moderate southerly breeze and a slight sea. The tide was ebbing. The IRB came up with the yacht Iris with two people on board drifting towards the shore. After taking the yacht in tow, the IRB crew decided to make for Aberdour harbour, but because of the rocks in Aberdour bay and not being sure of the state of the tide they towed the yacht into the channel against the wind to enter the harbour from the south. After safely mooring the Iris the IRB returned to her station, which was reached at 11.15.

Broughty Ferry, Angus - At 6.31 p.m. on I5th April, 1967, a member of the IRB crew informed the coxswain that a speed boat was sinking a quarter of a mile south of Broughty Castle rock and that her crew of three were in the water.

The IRB was launched two minutes later in a light northerly breeze and a calm sea.

It was high water. The three people were taken on board the IRB and their speed boat, which had struck a submerged log, was towed to Broughty Ferry sands. The IRB returned to her station at 7.3.

NORTH EASTERN DISTRICT Humber Mouth (Cleethorpes) Lin- colnshire - At 2 p.m. on 5th April, 1967, it was learned that four children were stranded in a moored boat four miles north of the station. In view of the rising tide and north westerly gale it was decided to launch the IRB to bring them ashore.

The IRB launched at 2.15 and took the four children on board. She reached her station at 3.15.

Filey, Yorkshire - At 2.15 p:m. on •joth April, 1967, during a yacht club race, it was decided in view of the prevailing conditions to have the IRB standing by.

At 2.42 the IRB was launched in a gentle north westerly breeze and a calm sea.

It was low water. The IRB rescued one man who had fallen into the sea and assisted four sailing dinghies to the shore.

She returned to her station at 4.40.

SOUTH EASTERN DISTRICT Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, Norfolk - At 4.42 p.m. on 24th April, 1967, it was reported that a member ofthe crew of the Lowestoft trawler Shereffmuir had been overcome by fumes when fire had broken out on board the trawler. The trawler was near Gorleston and had asked for a doctor. At 5.01 the IRB with a doctor on board left for the trawler. There was a moderate south easterly breeze with a moderate swell. The tide was ebbing. The patient was em- barked and given oxygen on the way back to the station. The IRB arrived at her station at 5.23 and an ambulance took the man to hospital.

At 11.20 a.m. on 9th April, 1967, it was reported that a rowing boat, with two men on board, was in difficulties south of the harbour. The IRB was launched at 11.22 in a moderate north easterly breeze and a moderate swell. The tide was ebb- ing. The rowing boat was making no headway due to the offshore wind and ebbing tide and was in danger of being swamped. The IRB took her in tow and returned to her station at 11.45.

Wells, Norfolk - At 4 p.m. on 6th April, 1967, information was received that two men were missing on the marshes east of the life-boat house. The men were seen on the sandhills. In view of the exceptional tide, caused by the onshore gale, the two men would not have been able to cross the marshes until well after dark. The IRB was therefore launched at 4.30 in a north westerly gale and corres- ponding sea. It was high water. The two men were taken on board the IRB and she returned to her station at 5.15.

See page 205 for other IRB launches.