THE HONORARY SECRETARY of Dover lifeboat station received a call from HM Coastguard at 1649 on Saturday May 12, 1979, telling him that a motor boat had been reported aground but that the sighting was being checked. Just over an hour later, at 1759, came confirmation that a motor cruiser was aground on rocks in the vicinity of Copt Point, Folkestone, and it was requested that the lifeboat should launch.

Although there was little wind or sea thick fog had reduced visibility to nil. It was one hour before high water.

Folkestone Coastguard mobile had gone to investigate, but could see nothing from the land.

Faithful Forester, the 44ft Waveney lifeboat at that time on station at Dover, launched immediately with Coxswain/ Assistant Mechanic Anthony Hawkins in command. Search was joined with Folkestone pilot launch and Folkestone Yacht and Motor Boat Club safety boat, but in the dense fog the stranded boat could not be found. The lifeboat, searching round the rocks with her radar, put her dinghy ashore with three crew members who checked on shouts heard, but it was found that the shouts came from bait diggers. The dinghy party remained ashore, how-ever, and with Folkestone mobile and the Coast Rescue Company, formed three separate search parties. It was not until about 2000 that the casualty, Al Rosanjo, was eventually sighted by an auxiliary coastguard.

The lifeboat, having recovered her dinghy, closed the casualty and light lines were passed to her. The boat was high and dry and Coxswain Hawkins ordered an inspection of her hull to see if she could be taken in tow; her three crew could not reach safe ground and it was considered too hazardous to embark them on the lifeboat.

The tide was rising; when there was enough water, at about 2145, the lifeboat passed a tow line to the motor cruiser and two lifeboatmen were put aboard her. She floated off at about 2200, was found to be sound and was taken into Folkestone Harbour. Her crew were put ashore at 2230 and by 2335 Dover lifeboat was once again back on her moorings and ready for service.

For this service a letter of appreciation signed by Cdr Bruce Cairns, chief of operations, was sent to Coxswain/ Assistant Mechanic Anthony G. Hawkins and his crew..