Clacton-on-Sea, Essex - At 8.45 a.m.

on 21st April, 1970, the coastguard reported that a yacht was stranded on a sandbank about 200 yards east of Wallet Spitway buoy. In poor visibility and worsening weather conditions the life-boat Valentine Wyndham-Quin was launched at 9.29 in a fresh south-south-westerly wind with a moderate sea. She found the motor yacht Lodestar with a crew of four at 10.10. The boat had, however, succeeded in refloating without assistance but was short of fuel. At 12.50 p.m. the life-boat took her in tow to a safe anchorage, returning to her station at 2.34. A donation was made to the Institution's funds and a gift to the crew..