YACHT ON THE ROCKS When a small motor yacht grounded on Longnose Ledge off Kent on 19thJuly, 1971, Margate Coastguard reported at 12.34 a.m. that the vessel was seriously damaged and was in danger of sinking. The crew could be heard shouting for help. As there was insufficient depth of water over the rocks, the life-boat was substituted for the 1KB.

The honorary secretary selected an experienced IRB helmsman, Mr. A. J. Scott, and the boat was carried across the rocks by Mr. Scott, two more crew members, Mr. P. Barker and Mr.

L. Manning, and five helpers. The IRB was launched on the east side of the pier at 1.50 and set course eastwards into the darkness in the direction of Longnose Ledge, about If miles away.

The passage along the coast was not without hazards. There were no navigational lights to guide the IRB clear of the rocks which lined the coast, yet Mr. Scott did not want to delay his arrival at the casualty by going too far to seaward.

He carried a torch which one of the crew kept directed towards the Coastguard lookout for guidance purposes. This enabled the Coastguard to advise the helmsman by radio that he appeared to be heading for the Longnose Ledge but that he should not attempt to cross it. Mr.

Scotfthen headed the IRB seawards again in the hope of sighting the Longnose buoy and getting his position for a run-in towards the casualty.

The unlit buoy, however, could not be found.

1'hen, as the IRB moved north-east of the lookout, the helmsman sighted the stranded vessel's navigation lights and he turned the IRB southwestwards towards her.

As the IRB approached, the crew could see the motor yacht Pisces being pounded heavily on the Foreness rocks and heard cries of 'Help, we are sinking'. Mr. Scott radioed a request to the Coastguard to illuminate the area and themobile unit did so by firing parachute flares continuously during the final stages of the IRB's approach. In the light of the flare, Mr. Scott could see that he was in imminent danger of damaging his own propeller by being pounded on to the surrounding rocks. So he decided to stop and lift his engine, and then to row for the last 20 yards or so through the quite heavy swells which were by then breaking over the stricken motor yacht.

At 1.8 the IRB crew secured their boat alongside the casualty and Mr. Scott went aboard to find a woman and two men. One of the men was disabled and had an artificial leg. All three were wet and frightened and it was with some difficulty that they were taken in turn aboard the IRB as it rose and fell with the breaking waves.

The IRB was then taken as close to the concreted pipe-line of the sewer outfall as possible, where Mr. Scott first took the woman on his back and waded ashore with her to waiting Coastguards, and then, with the aid of crewman Mr. Barker, helped the disabled man and the other survivor to safety. All were landed in Botany Bay. One crew man remained with the IRB and when the others returned it was to find that the receding tide had already left her high and dry on the rocks. A radio call for more hands was therefore made to the life-boat house, where others were standing by. Additional help duly arrived to relaunch the IRB, which then returned to her station at 3.30.

The survivors were given shelter for the rest of the night in the IRB house and, at first light, their rescuers completed the service by returning on foot to the wreck of the Pisces to salvage their belongings for them.

The Committee of Management has accorded the thanks of the Institution inscribed on vellum to Mr. Scott. Vellum service certificates have been sent to the two crew members, Mr. Leslie Manning and Mr. Peter Barker, to commemorate their participation in this service..