Two inshore rescue boats stationed on the Sussex coast at Hastings and Brighton carried out difficult rescues on the afternoon of Sunday, 25th June, for which framed letters of thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution, Captain the Hon. V. M. Wyndham-Quin, R.N., have been sent to the members of their crews. The men concerned were: Mr. J. Martin (helmsman) and Mr. W.

Adams of Hastings, and Mr. G. Wheeler (helmsman) and Mr. P. Avey and Mr.

E. C. Newman of Brighton.

The honorary secretary of the Hastings life-boat and IRB station, Mr. P. J.

Hale, was told by the police at 2.25 p.m. that a capsized yacht had been seen off Warrior Square, St. Leonards, and there were two people in the water. Five minutes later the Hastings IRB was launched. She made at full speed for the casualty.

At the time of launching there was a south westerly wind of force 5, but it increased rapidly, soon reaching force 9. There was continuous heavy rain and the sea rapidly became very rough. It was half an hour after high water when the IRB was launched.

PEOPLE FOUND The IRB found a man and a woman in the water clinging to the yacht's rudder. They were quickly picked up, and it was then seen that a few hundred yards away two more people were in the water hanging on to another capsized boat. The IRB picked them up too and then returned to her station, where she landed the four survivors at 2.50.

Meanwhile, the Hastings life-boat Fairlight, which is one of the 3y-foot Oakley type, had been launched on service to another casualty. Telephonecommunication between the boathouse and the coastguard station had broken down in the gale.

Three minutes after returning to shore the IRB was directed to another casualty near the position of the Hastings life-boat and was asked to take a message to the life-boat that there was yet another craft in distress south-east of the life-boat station.

When the IRB reached the life-boat it was seen that the life-boat was dealing with the only casualty in sight, and after an abortive search to the south eastward of the life-boat the IRB returned to shore at 3.25.

The rescue by the Brighton IRB took place at almost the same time. At 2.20 in the afternoon the assistant honorary secretary, Mr. A. V. Crockford, was told by an official of the Black Rock swimming pool that two people had been seen in difficulties a mile south of Black Rock Groyne. They were thought to be either in a dinghy or on a raft.

Five minutes later the Brighton IRB was launched from a steep beach under difficult conditions. She proceeded to the south east as fast as conditions would allow. As at Hastkigs the south westerly wind was gusting in squalls to storm force. Because of rain and spray visibility was poor, and there was a rough steep sea.

THREE WERE MISSING After a passage of a mile and a half the IRB reached the casualty, which was a rubber dinghy at anchor. There were two skin divers aboard the dinghy, and it was reported that three other skin divers were missing. Two of them were apparently searching for a companion who had become separated.

The IRB made a sweep to the south and west and picked up two of the skin divers. They were taken to the rubber dinghy which was seen to be dragging rapidly towards the shore. The IRB towed the dinghy to Black Rock, where the survivors were landed at 2.50. She then returned to search for the fifth man. He was eventually found exhausted about half a mile south west of the point at which the search began. The IRB landed him at the nearest point on shore at 3.20 and reached her station 20 minutes later..