On trials and passage EVEN BEFORE a new lifeboat reaches her station she is very likely to have started her service to seafarers. The 33ft Brede lifeboat Caroline Finch, which was placed on service at Exmouth lifeboat station on August 4, performed one such service while on trials earlier in thesummer and another on passage to station.

On Sunday June 5, a day of rain and thunder squalls, Caroline Finch, returning to Poole from engine trials under the command of Staff Coxswain Edward Mallinson, was half a mile south of St Albans Head when, at 1520, HM Coastguard informed her of a yacht firing distress flares further south of the headland. A near gale, force 7, was blowing from the north east, backing to west north west and gusting up to strong gale, force 9, in the thunder squalls.

The sea was moderate to rough.

The Brede immediately headed south at full speed. When the yacht was sighted on her starboard bow, Caroline Finch altered course and she arrived alongside the 33ft sloop Junio, four miles south south west of St Albans Head, at 1535. The yacht's mainsail slides had pulled out and her jib was split, although still sheeted; she was heading south under her engine.

There were only two people on board the yacht, a man and his wife, and as the owner asked for help it was decided to put one of the lifeboat crew aboard.

First, however, the yacht was asked to follow the lifeboat towards land and out of the overfalls on St Albans Ledge.

Another severe squall was approaching from the west as Exmouth Assistant Mechanic Timothy Mock was put aboard. He handed and stowed all sails and then took over the helm from the owner just before the squall struck with force 9 westerly winds, hail and nilvisibility. Both boats maintained steerage way until the squall had moderated and then the lifeboat escorted the yacht in to Poole Harbour, arriving at 1900..