TOW LASTED 13 HOURS AT 8.10 a.m. on 11 March, 1972, the St. Mary's, Scilly Isles, life-boat station learnt that the yacht Moronel had requested assistance 13 miles from Bishop Rock. The maroons were fired at 8.22 a.m.

The wind was north east, force 5-7, with a rough sea and a heavy swell. The life-boat Jessie Lumb, on temporary duty at the station, slipped her moornings at 8.33 a.m.

At 10.3 a.m. information from St. Mary's Coastguard put the position of Moronel, based on earlier information, as 10 miles south of Wolf Rock and course was altered shortly afterwards for this new position.

At 11 o'clock a Russian vessel indicated she was alongside Moronel and attempting to pass a tow. At 12.5p.m. Coxswain Matthew Lethbridge asked, through Land's End radio, for the casualty to fire a rocket in order to make contact. After a passage of three hours 37 minutes to the south east of the Scilly Isles in a rough sea and heavy swell, the casualty's rockets were sighted five minutes later some four miles ahead in a position 15 miles south east of St.

Mary's.

At 12.35 p.m. the life-boat was alongside Moronel. She was drifting beam on to wind and sea, was rolling heavily, had spars and rigging missing, had both masts and bowsprit broken, and had a crew of two, one of whom was seriously seasick.

By then the wind was north cast, force 7,gusting 8-9, with a very rough sea and heavy swell. At 12.36 p.m. the life-boat passed a towline and began towing Moronel to St. Mary's.

The tow, however, parted due to the yacht's bollard coining adriit and the coxswain asked for a volunteer to board the yacht to assist.

At considerable risk to his own safety, Mr.

Rodney Terry jumped from the life-boat to the yacht. Eventually the tow was reconnected with the bridle of the yacht's anchor chain.

But the chain bridle parted, and had to be reconnected with the use of a single chain of about 25 fathoms. At 3.38 p.m. the tow line again parted but it was very soon reconnected.

At 3.53 p.m. the position of the life-boat was seven miles south by east of St. Mary's. The speed was slow—only two knots. At 5.42 p.m.

the yacht's anchor cable again parted, to be reconnected using a shackle, and the tow continued. Finally at 6.25 p.m. the life-boat's starboard engine failed, due to § belt drive slipping and suspected overheating, and the tow was continued on one engine.

The St. Mary's life-boat and her tow reached St. Mary's at 9.45 p.m. This service spanned a period of 13 hours in exposed gale conditions, taking four hours to find the casualty, followed by a long slow tow with several setbacks.

For this service the thanks of the Institution, inscribed on vellum, have been accorded to Coxswain Lethbridge and Mr. Rodney Terry.

Certificates to commemorate their participation have been sent to Second Coxswain Ernest R.

Guy, Bowman Richard Lethbridge, Assistant Mechanic William H. Lethbridge, Crew members George Syrnons and Roy Duncan..