Yacht saved in darkness SEVERE GALE TO STORM FORCE SOUthsouth- westerly winds were blowing on the night of Sunday May 25 when a message reached the honorary secretary of Moelfre lifeboat station that a 24ft yacht with auxiliary engine, Star Thrower, had suffered machinery failure some 6'/2 miles due north of the station.

Moelfre's 37ft 6in Rother class lifeboat, Horace Clarkson, launched from her slipway at 2045 into very rough seas and six foot swell, Second Coxswain Anthony Dennis in command. During the next hour the lifeboat kept in radio contact with the ship Robert M which was standing by the yacht and at 2146 the lifeboat was alongside preparing to take the yacht in tow.

Before the tow began the yacht's two man crew who were showing signs of exposure were taken off and replaced by two lifeboat crew members. It took over two hours to tow the yacht back to Moelfre through very rough seas and force 9 to 10 winds. She was eventually successfully and safely secured to the pilot boat buoy in Moelfre Bay. At 0145 the acting coxswain attempted to place the lifeboat on the slipway but the extreme weather forced him to abandon the attempt and instead the lifeboat headed for Amlwch harbour where she secured alongside at 0230.

The survivors, local men, were landed and driven home by the honorary secretary. Following this service a letter of appreciation, signed by Cdr Bruce Cairns, chief of operations, was sent to Second Coxswain Anthony Dennis..