FLAMBOROUGH, Sunday May 12,1985: Flamborough's 37ft Oakley class lifeboat, Will and Fanny Kirby, launched at 1207. The Filey fishing coble, Gaidan, had been crabbing close in under the cliffs, north of Flamborough Head. The weather was bad with a strong northerly breeze, force 6, to near gale, force 7, a rough sea and eight foot swell.

The lifeboat, with Coxswain James Major at the helm, launched to provide an escort for the fishing coble. Her skipper, on arrival of the lifeboat, and in view of the weather, decided to return to Filey. The lifeboat accompanied the coble and at 1245 the skipper reported that he had a rope in his propeller which could not be cut out.

However, the coble was still able to make progress under her own steam at a reduced speed. The two boats eventually reached the coble landing at Filey at 1340 and the lifeboat, on completion of her escort duty, then returned to station.

photograph by courtesy of Michael H. Kidd.