Courtmacsherry Harbour, Co. Cork - At 10.15 p.m. on 14th September, 1969, the honorary secretary learnt that the motor launch Flip, with a crew of two, was overdue from a fishing trip believed to be in the vicinity of the Barrel rocks. The Old Head lighthouse keeper, however, had seen no boat in difficulties. The life-boat Helen Wycherly slipped her moorings at 10.40 in a moderate north east to easterly breeze. It was three hours before low water. She was setting out towards the centre of Courtmacsherry bay when the m.v.

Constantine reported at 11.15 to the life-boat by radio-telephone that she had a small boat answering the description astern of her, five miles off the Seven Heads. She stood by until the life-boat arrived. The lifeboat located the lights of the motor vessel in deteriorating visibility and took the Flip and her crew in tow at midnight. Shortly after this dense fog compelled them to drop anchor at 1.10 a.m. on 15th September.

When the fog cleared at 6.30 the life-boat resumed her tow to Courtmacsherry harbour. She returned to her station at 7.30..