FOR a long search in bad weather on 22nd March, 1969, for the fishing boat Crusader additional monetary awards have been paid to the crew of the Ilfracombe, North Devon, life-boat.

At 2.20 a.m. it was learnt that a fishing vessel had sunk 10 miles from Morte Point. Maroons were fired at 2.45 and at 3 o'clock the life-boat Lloyd's II—a 37-foot Oakley built in 1966—launched. The weather was overcast, visibility was fair with a south east wind force 5, and there was a moderate sea.

The life-boat arrived in the search area at 4.15 p.m. The Clovelly life-boat Charles H. Barrett (Civil Service No. 35) and other vessels were already in the area. An intensive search was started with the Clovelly life-boat concentrating on the western part of the area and Ilfracombe life-boat on the eastern.

Meanwhile weather conditions were deteriorating with the wind backing to east and increasing to force 6. Visibility was by then poor. Although the life- boat had been taking spray on board from the start of the service, the increasing wind and by now rough sea increased the spray which was continually lashing the decks.

COLD AND WET At 6.36 p.m. the three vessels which had been assisting in the search continued on passage, while the two life-boats continued searching. At daylight an R.A.F.

helicopter joined the search but without results. The search was called off at 12 o'clock and Ilfracombe life-boat returned to her station, arriving at 2.45.

'Although this proved to be a no service', says the official report, 'an intensive search was carried out with the whole crew being continually drenched in cold driving spray for some 12 hours. With little or no shelter in their open life-boat, and no heating, this was an arduous service carried out in an efficient manner although the crew were extremely cold and wet.'.