FISHING BOAT SAVED FROM ROCKY GRAVE At 4.12 a.m. on 24th January, 1972, the Flamborough coastguard told Mr. Arthur Dick, the honorary secretary, Bridllngton, that the m.f.v. My Susanne was sending out radio messages requesting life-boat assistance, as her engine was broken down, and even though her anchor was down, it was not holding and the vessel was drifting on to a lee shore.

The maroons were fired at 4.28. At this time a further message was received that the casualty had sent a radio message that she was grounding a quarter of a mile off Sewerby beach.

The Bridlington life-boat William Henry and Mary King, which is a 37-foot Oakley, was launched, the wind being southerly, force 7, causing a rough sea and breakers along the shore-line. She went in a north easterly direction towards Sewerby beach and at 4.45 a.m. the deck lights of the casualty were sighted under the cliffs. The life-boat was brought up in a position off the casualty and rounded head to sea clear of the broken water in which the My Susanne lay.

A parachute illuminating flare was fired so that the situation could be assesed.

The coastline in this position runs in an east south east to west south west direction and the beach shoals very gradually to seaward, consisting of sand, rock outcrops and occasional boulders.

It was seen that the casualty lay with her head in a north by east direction. Bearing in mind that the tide was on the turn and starting to flood and that to attempt to take off the crew by breeches buoy would entail dragging them through shallow tumbling seas, Coxswain John King decided to attempt to tow the boat off before she started to break up, thus saving the crew. It could be seen that the casualty lay too far from the shore for a breeches buoy rescue by the Coastguard.

The life-boat was anchored to seaward and to the eastward of the casualty and veered down towards the casualty on the anchor cable. Wind was from a south by west direction, force 7, with gusts of force 8. The sea was rough and a swell was breaking heavily round the My Susanne and to seaward in the shoal water. The life-boat veered back into the breaking water, pitching violently to the breaking seas which were 7 to 8 feet between trough and crest. Seas were breaking over the bows of the life-boat and the three crew members tending the anchor cable.

When veered to within 100 yards of the casualty a rocket line was fired across My Susanne. At this stage the echo sounder was showing no reading, and the life-boat's keel struck the ground heavily several times. A plaited warp was quickly passed from the fishing boat's starboard bow and made fast on board the life-boat. Then the engines were put ahead. During this time radio contact had been kept with the casualty. She was asked to slack away the towline to allow the life-boat into deeper water.

The towing attempt was made from the bow of the fishing boat owing to the fact that she was deep drafted aft and light drafted forward.

After a short period of towing by the life-boat the casualty's head began to move, and gradually she was towed around to a southerly heading through an easterly heading. At this point the life-boat's anchor began to drag and the life-boat was swept westward by the increasing tide.

Gun lines were attached to the towing warp and then it was slipped, the life-boat proceeding to seaward and relaying her anchor further out, then veering back again. The tow warp was recovered and made fast at 6.47 a.m.

By this time the trawler had broached broadside on to the beach, having been swung round by the tide and sea, and she was lying rolling and grinding her bilges on the rocky bottom, sometimes lying almost on her beam ends.

The casualty was gradually pulled round again until she was heading in a southerly direction, and during this process the skipper of My Susanne expressed concern for the safety of his crew and thought the boat was lost. However, Coxswain King duly reassured him. While being [hove round, the fishing boat was hammered by seas and constantly thrown beam ends on to the sea.

With the casualty's head to seaward and the tide rising, the life-boat now went full ahead in an attempt to free the fishing boat. The casualty by now had been able to start her ownengine, and with this added help, at 7.35 a.m., the life-boat pulled her clear, shortening up her anchor cable as she did so.

With the relief of getting off, the fishing boat kept coming ahead and passed close along the port side of the life-boat, altering course to starboard across her bows. This took the tow rope under the life-boat and fouled her port propeller. The port engine was stopped immediately and the casualty let go her own tow rope.

This move was completely unexpected as it had been arranged by radio that the casualty would wait until the life-boat recovered her anchor and lay to her tow.

The life-boat now weighed anchor and proceeded on her starboard engine. At 7.77 a.m.

My Susanne requested that the life-boat escort her into harbour as her engine was running very roughly and might fail. After seeing her safely into harbour through a confused sea at the harbour entrance, the life-boat returned to the beach at 8.14 a.m. She was re-housed and placed on service just before 9 o'clock that morning.

For this service Coxswain King was awarded a bar to his bronze medal for gallantry. The remainder of the crew received medal service certificates..