SAFETY RULES A skipper whose 60-foot motor yawl rammed a 12-foot sailing dinghy, shipwrecking the latter crew, was fined £2 in January for careless navigating in Chichester harbour. The defendant had pleaded guilty to navigating a mechanically propelled vessel without care and caution and in such a manner as to cause damage to another vessel.

Mr. Nigel Hacking, secretary-general of the Royal Yachting Association, said: 'Basically we have laws on the sea rather like those for motorists. They are, in fact, safety rules.' MONEY AND MEMBERS At the recent Trades Fair at which the Guernsey, C.I., branch of the R.N.L.I, had a stand, the Lieutenant-Governor, Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Mills, who is president of the branch, signed up as a member of the Y.L.A.

Gross sales of souvenirs and Christmas cards amounted to £617 with £49 in the collecting box. About 20 new Y.L.A. members were enrolled.'LIFELINE' Running time 13 minutes, colour, 16mm • This film was made to encourage support for the Yachtsmen's Life-boat Supporters' Association and deals in an amusing manner with the serious subject of saving the lives of the ever-increasing numbers taking to the water.

Today well over 60% of the lives saved by the R.N.L.I, fall into the category of pleasure craft.

It was for this reason that the R.N.L.I, started the inshore life-boat service which has grown dramatically from year to year.

Lifeline contrasts the fate of two couples who get into difficulties in different ways. The first couple are absolute beginners and soon come to grief in embarrassing circumstances—but with nothing worse than a ducking. The second couple, both experienced yachtsmen, find themselves in a dangerous situation through badluck rather than any fault of their own. The film goes on to show how the local ILB is launched to their rescue.

The film was produced by United Motion Pictures Ltd. and directed by Alan Ross, with a script by David Parker, R.Y.A., and includes some particularly good racing sequences. Lifeline was donated to the R.N.L.I. by Matthew Clark & Sons Ltd., agents for Martell Cognac, whose brandy is held at every life-boat station in the U.K. for survivors.

Filming took place at Lymington and involved the local inshore life-boat and the Yarmouth, I.o.W., life-boat.

EARLS COURT Just over 200 new members were enrolled at the Boat Show at Earls Court. This was rather disappointing after the good results of the previous year. A large number of members called at the stand and once again the Association is indebted to the voluntary workers who helped to man the Y.L.A. counter.

BELFAST Notwithstanding the political distraction it was 'business as usual' at the Belfast Show and we are pleased to record the enrolment of 32 new members. The Association appreciates the efforts of Mrs. E. M. McMaster and her colleagues.

CLUBS AND Y.L.A.

A recent review of our 'Club list' has provided the following interesting figures relating to those clubs with 50 or more Y.L.A. members: Crusing Association 137; Little Ship Club 109;R.N.S.A. 104; Clyde Cruising Club 85; Royal St. George Yacht Club 69; Guernsey Yacht Club 68; Royal Yacht Squadron 64; Royal Cruising Club 56; Chichester Yacht Club 56; Parkstone Yacht Club 56, and Royal Lymington Yacht Club 55.SPONSORED SAIL As announced on page 254, there is to be a London sponsored sail held in conjunction with the Welsh Harp Sailing Association which is being organised by the C.A.C. The sail will be operated from the North London office of the R.N.L.I. at 553A High Road, Wembley, Middlesex (Tel.: 01 903 3230). Date of the sail is 28th August, 1972, and the closing date is 15th August. Duration of the event will be eight hours and a minimum sponsoring of 25p per lap per entrant is being asked. It will be limited to 25 laps.

Y.L.A. ADDRESS Correspondence should be addressed to the Yachtsmen's Life-boat Supporters' Association, 29a Castle Street, Salisbury (Tel. No.: Salisbury 6966). Members should always quote their membership number in all correspondence..