Lost rudder A COBLE NEEDING HELP, with three men on board, was reported to the deputy launching authority of Seaham lifeboat station by Tees Coastguard at 0955 on Sunday November 26, 1978.

The message had been relayed from MV Plymouth which had seen the coble fire a flare.

It was an overcast morning with fair visibility. The wind was north north west near gale, force 7, the sea rough and the tide flooding.

Seaham lifeboat, the 37ft Oakley The Will and Fanny Kirby, launched at 1015 and set an easterly course at full speed to where Plymouth was standing by the coble Ambler.

Reaching the casualty at 1038, the lifeboat took off one of her crew. The other two men asked to stay aboard the coble, which was taken in tow stern first because she had lost her rudder.

By now the wind had increased to north north west, gale force 8, and there was a heavy northerly swell so that towing was at slow speed. At 1110 the tow line, which had slipped off the coble's towing bollard, was made fast again and a second man asked to come aboard the lifeboat.

Owing to the heavy swell, the lifeboat had to approach Seaham from the north. She entered harbour with her tow at 1133 and took the coble to North Dock where her crew were landed.

Because of the heavy surge on the slipway, the lifeboat had to moor in the North Dock until 1500 (three hours ebb). She was rehoused and ready for service at 1630..