Courtmacsherry, Co. Cork - At 6.45 p.m. on 6th July, 1969, a member of the public told the coxswain that a small boat was drifting off Barry's point. Later the honorary secretary, who had asked for confirmation of the distress, saw the boat fire a flare.

At 7.30 the life-boat Sir Arthur Rose slipped her moorings in a fresh northerly wind with a choppy sea.

The tide was flooding. She came up with the motor launch Lady Avalon, with a crew of two on board, six miles south of Seven heads. Her engine had broken down. The lifeboat took her in tow to Courtmacsherry, and returned to her station at 10.30..