Not long after the lifeboat had returned, at 1815. a message came to Torbay station honorary secretary from Brixham Coastguard that something was amiss in mid channel. Coxswain Curnow and Motor Mechanic Stephen Bower were alerted and at 1914 came a report that MV C/ymene had picked up three men from a liferaft belonging to the fishing vessel Pietje Antje which had foundered in heavy seas 20 miles south south east of Start Point nine hours previously.

Five other men were missing.

Torbay lifeboat slipped her moorings at 1926. ' It was still raining and misty with a near gale, force 7 blowing from north west. The sea was very rough with a long swell from the recent storm force winds so that, once clear of the harbour.

Coxswain Curnow had to tack across the swells to maintain full speed. The area of search was reached at 2055.

A helicopter had located another liferaft but was having difficulty in rescuing the two men on board because her down draught was blowing the liferaft across the sea surface. The lifeboat, therefore, made for the position as quickly as possible, picked up the two men and also took the raft on board.

From one of these survivors it was learned that Pietje Antje had been capsized by two freak seas while she was recovering her beam trawls after receiving warning of the storm. Of the missing men, one had been trapped below when the trawler sank, one had been seen swimming and one hanging on to a marker buoy. The liferaft from which the two men were rescued had 'turned over' twice in the gales.

RFA Fort Grange then arrived and, assuming the responsibilities of 'on scene commander', organised a search plan for the seven ships and two helicocopters available. At 2300 Fort Grange advised the lifeboat that there were enough ships in the area to continue the search and she should return to Brixham with the survivors she had on board. She arrived at 0115, the survivors were landed and Edward Bridges was once more back on her moorings at 0245.

For the service to Marie des Isles a framed letter of thanks signed by the Duke of Atholl, chairman of the Institution, was presented to Coxswain Arthur Curnow, to whom was also sent a letter of appreciation signed by the director, Rear Admiral W. J. Graham, for the service to Pietje Antje. Letters of appreciation signed by Cdr Bruce Cairns, chief of operations, were sent to Second Coxswain Ernest C. Fradd, Motor Mechanic Stephen J. Bower and Emergency Mechanic Brian J. Gaunter, who took part in both services; to Assistant Mechanic William J. Hunkin and Crew Members Philip H. Burridge and Derek E. H. Rundle. who took part in the service to Marie des Isles; and to Crew Members Derek Winning, Stephen D. Lunn and Richard Brown who took part in the service to Pietje Antje..