ACTING Coxswain Eric Grandin of St. Helier, Jersey, has been accorded the Institution's thanks inscribed on vellum for the rescue of four people from the French yacht Kraken which went aground on 26th March, 1967. The St. Helier honorary secretary, Mr. Peter Baker, learnt from the duty harbour official at 2.50 p.m. that the Kraken of Caen was aground on the Dog's Nest Reef, south of St. Helier. The life-boat, Elizabeth Ripon, which is one of the 12-foot 9-inchWatson class, was launched at 3.10 with Mr. Eric Grandin, who is normally the bowman, in command.

There was a west north westerly wind of force 6, with a choppy sea. It was one hour after low water. The weather was cloudy, but visibility was good.

A local boat, Bettina, belonging to Mr. B. Leblanc, with the owner and Mr.

Le Guyader on board, had put out to the casualty and a boat of the zodiac type operated by the fire service had also been launched.

The yacht was on the west side of the reef, and Mr. Leblanc took his boat to windward of her. Mr. Le Guyader manned a dinghy and an attempt was made to veer this down to the yacht in order to pass a tow line. The dinghy broke awayand drifted on to the reef where it became a total wreck. Although he could not swim Mr. Le Guyader managed to reach the rocks.

The fire service boat tried to close the yacht but was damaged on the rocks and had to withdraw and stand by.

The St. Helier life-boat, which had her boarding boat in tow, reached the scene at 3.30. By this time the Kraken had been carried well on to the reef by the wind and by the tide which was running at some 4 to 5 knots in the gullies between the rocks. The sea here was rough.

Acting Coxswain Grandin made his first approach from the westward. A rocket line was fired but it failed to reach the yacht. The life-boat then touched bottom, and it was clear that no approach could be made from the west. The yacht was being driven further on to the reef and Acting Coxswain Grandin decided that he must try to save her crew from the east side. He therefore advised them to abandon their yacht and make for the rocks, which they did.The life-boat made for the east side of the reef and closed in as far as she safely could. Her boarding boat was then sent in manned by four of the life- boat crew. The yacht's crew of three and Mr. Le Guyader were taken aboard the boarding boat and transferred to the life-boat, which then returned to her station, arriving at 5 o'clock.

Certificates recording their part in the service were issued to the other members of the life-boat crew: A. De St. Croix, acting bowman R. Nicolle, motor mech- anic Royston Berezai, assistant mechanic Philip Richardson and crew members Gordon Coom, David Coom and G. Mercier.

Framed letters of thanks signed by the Secretary of the Institution, Mr. Stirling Whorlow, were sent to Mr. Leblanc and Mr. Le Guyader.

A letter of thanks was also sent to the Chief Fire Officer at St. Helier..