THE thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum have been accorded to Coxswain Thomas Cooper, of the Ramsgate life-boat, for saving a yacht and four people at the entrance to Ramsgate harbour. Vellum service certificates have also been awarded to Second Coxswain Herbert Goldfinch, Bowman Ronald Blay, Motor Mechanic R. Cannon, Assistant Mechanic T. Pettit and crew members W. Blay, A. Bray and J. Jones for their part in the same service.

It was at 2135 hrs. on llth October, 1968, that the honorary secretary, Mr.

K. F. Speakman, learnt that a yacht was aground and in difficulties on the bar.

The maroons were fired a minute later.

The Michael and Lily Davis, which is a 46-foot 9-inch Watson life-boat, slipped her moorings at 2145 hrs. The wind was southerly, force 8/9, with a rough breaking sea. Visibility was poor.

The casualty—the 17-ton yacht Lungta—was found on the south side of the head of the east pier. She was lying with her bow to the north west, and she was being pounded heavily and at times was on her beam ends. Parachute flares and the searchlight were used to illuminate her.

'EXTREMELY PRECARIOUS' Coxswain Cooper anchored in !•£ fathoms to windward of the Lungta and veered down on her, paying out about 75 fathoms of caple. After an unsuccessful attempt a second rocket line was fired and a tow rope passed. The life-boat then steamed slowly ahead taking in the slack of her cable as she did so. Unfortunately the tow rope was not properly secured aboard the yacht and the life-boat had to recover it and weigh anchor.

By this time the Lungta had been driven round the pier head and lay on the sands with her head to the westward. Conditions were worsening and the position of the yacht was extremely precarious.The life-boat again steamed to windward and re-anchored to the eastward of her earlier position, veering down until the life-boat was at times touching bottom. A third rocket line was fired and the tow rope secured aboard the yacht. This was led over the life-boat's bow to the capstan in order that the yacht's bow could be hove up into the wind.

When this manoeuvre had been completed the rope was passed to the port quarter bollard of the life-boat and the life-boat steamed ahead of her cable, taking in the slack. At 2340 hrs. the casualty came clear and the life-boat weighed anchor. The yacht was towed into Ramsgate harbour where both vessels were secured at 0026 hrs. on 12th October. The Michael and Lily Davis returned to her moorings at 0045 hrs..