RUSSIAN ENCOUNTER News was received at Walnier, Kent, on 7th August, 1971, that an unknown number of survivors from a yacht had been placed on board the East Goodwin lightvessel after having been rescued by a Russian warship flotilla somewhere in the North Sea.

The life-boat Charles Dibdin (Civil Service No.

32) was launched at 9.8 p.m. in a fresh to strong south westerly wind and a moderate sea. It was four hours after high water. She made for the lightvessel and took off three survivors who it transpired had sailed from Ostend for Aldeburgh in their yacht Melissa of Aldeburgh. At 11.30 a.m. that day their rudder broke and they drifted. When the Russian warships appeared they burnt distress flares and were rescued by a ship's boat from the Russian supply ship. The Melissa, which had received further damage during the rescue operation, was taken in tow.The rescued family were on board the Russian vessel for some five hours before being transferred to the East Goodwin lightvessel. The lifeboat took the Melissa in tow, and with the survivors on board, made for Dover Harbour. The life-boat returned to her station at 1.30 a.m. on 8th August..