Stolen Yacht A YACHT was seen to be in difficulty just outside New Quay harbour, Cardiganshire, one-and-a-half miles from the station on a bearing of 070° on Wednesday, September 19, 1973. Within ten minutes, at 9.35 a.m., the lifeboat, Birds Eye, was launched in a rough sea and flood tide; the wind was strong to near gale force north north westerly.

When the lifeboat reached her at 9.55, the yacht was identified as Susie Wong, an old-time gaff cutter from Aberystwyth.

The weather was rapidly deteriorating.

The yacht, although sailing on anorth easterly course, was making no headway and drifting towards the rocks, but the three men on board refused help, saying that they were on their way to Ireland.

It was at this point that the Coastguard received information that Susie Wong was missing from Aberystwyth Harbour. The yacht was shipping a great deal of water, her engine had stopped and some of her sails had been carried away.

Eventually her occupants agreed to being towed back to harbour, which wasreachedby 1 l.SO.Thelifeboatreturned to her station at 12.00..