THE thanks of the R.N.L.I. inscribed on vellum, for the rescue of two men from a cabin cruiser, have been awarded to Robert Chalk, helmsman; Gordon Easton, motor mechanic; and D. Morgan of the Southend-on-Sea IRB.

At 5.32 p.m. on 16th March, 1968, in a wind of force 6 to 8, a cabin cruiser was reported to have overturned throwing the crew of two into the water. The IRB, after being carried about 400 yards over the mud, was launched at 5.53 p.m.

with a crew of three.

Following a passage of one and a half miles at half speed in appalling weather conditions, the IRB found the vessel overturned. The mast had broken and the crew were clinging to a piece. Neither was wearing a life-jacket.

BARELY IN TIME The first attempt at taking the IRB alongside the casualty failed as did an attempt to throw a life-jacket to the survivors. On the two following attempts a man was picked up on each occasion, the final approach being barely in time as the survivor was being swept under the cabin cruiser.

At 6.13 p.m. the IRB made for the pier with the two exhausted survivors, the first man who was picked up being in a bad way. The return passage was made at slow speed head on the the westerly gale and heavy sea. As the boat was partially waterlogged, and the crew were unable to use the water baler, the rescued men were physically supported to prevent their slipping from the air tubes into the swamped boat. The helmsman radioed for an ambulance, landed the survivors, and at 6.48 p.m. the IRB returned to her station..