Anchors dragging ON MONDAY MORNING, April 7, the Coastguard informed Padstow honorary secretary that a 90' beam fishing trawler, Elizabeth Ann Webster of 112 tons carrying a crew of six, had broken down with gear box trouble 17| nautical miles from the station on a bearing of 045°M.

It was feared that her anchors would not hold in the deteriorating weather and that she would be driven ashore by a south-west gale which was imminent.

The 48' 6" Oakley lifeboat James and Catherine Macfarlane was launched at 1111 to stand by the trawler on a flooding tide in poor weather; visibility was limited to between one and seven miles.

The sea was rough and the gale was by then blowing from the north west.

The trawler was reached by 1312. She was 1\ nautical miles off shore. Her anchors were not holding and she was being driven by an inshore wind of up to force 7.

After consultation with her skipper, it was decided to tow Elizabeth Ann Webster back to Padstow Harbour. It was a tough tow with James and Catherine Macfarlane having to pull a vessel three times her own weight.

Padstow Harbour was reached safely by 1838. The lifeboat returned to her station and was rehoused by 1915..