Sennen Cove and St. Ives, Cornwall -At noon on 12th April, 1968, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary of the Sennen Cove life-boat station that the owner of the exhibition galleon Hispaniola had expressed concern for the safety of the vessel which was at anchor five miles west of Cape Cornwall. In view of increasing wind and flood tide the life-boatSusan Ashley was launched at 2.30 p.m. in a strong east south easterly breeze and a rough sea. It was three hours after low water. The life-boat came up with the Hispaniola at 4.20.

Her engine had broken down and she was drifting about 15 miles off Cape Cornwall. The Hispaniola was taken in tow by the life-boat. The strong headwinds and adverse tide coupled with the high superstructure of the galleon rendered the tow difficult.

The life-boat with her tow reached St. Ives Bay at 12.15 a.m. on 13th April. They dropped anchor in the bay as there was insufficient water to berth in St. Ives harbour. At 4.45 the life-boat, with the assistance of the St. Ives IRB which had been launched at 12.15, succeeded in manoeuvring the galleon to a safe berth. This operation was carried out with great difficulty and involved the closest co-operation between the life-boat and the IRB. At 6.30 the life-boat left St. Ives and the IRB returned to her station an hour later. At 8 a.m., while on the return passage, a request was received to take off a keeper from the Wolf Rock lighthouse who was seriously ill and required hospital treatment. The Sennen Cove life-boat reached the lighthouse at 9.10, but a rough sea made it impossible to take off the sick man. The services of a helicopter were requested and the life-boat stood by until the helicopter lifted the sick man from the lantern platform. The life-boat returned to her station at 4 p.m. The owner of the Hispaniola made a donation to the Institution's funds..