More on this from RNLI perspective:
https://lifeboatmagazinearchive.rnli.org/volume/42/442/nomis?searchterm=Yacht+Gan&page=143

Yachtsman Charles Crisp was returning to Poole with "Nomis" from Brixham. His 500m qualifying trip would have been later, but it sounds like his serious injuries would have scotched all that - "Nomis" was certainly not an starter.
"Nomis" didn't take part

The owner of the sailboat "Nomis" was accumulating the required "hours under sail" in order to qualify for the Single-Handed Trans-Atlantic Race. I have often wondered if he qualified, and took part in the race!

Mr.Scott: it is always like this. These wafis are everywhere just as the stupids bycicle goons I meet when the weather improve somehow....

Fascinating story about Captain Dean's seamanship but, I have to ask, what was that stupid yachtie doing off Portland Bill (ie close to shore) in a force 11?

In January 1972, Methane Princess was approaching Portland Bill bound for Canvey island, with a Force 11 directly astern. Visibility was very poor due to the amount of flying spray. Around 2300, 3/O Knight sighted a small light fine on the Port bow. There was no target on the radar. He altered course 5 degrees to Stbd. As he did so, a red flare rose above the white light. Knight hit the General Alarm and rang Standby on the telegraph. The light was the sailboat "Nomis", whose owner was practicing for the Single-Handed Transatlantic Race when he encountered the storm and had been badly injured. Capt. Stanley Dean brought "Methane Princess" astern into the eye of the windstorm, and made a lee for "Nomis". A heaving line was thrown to the yachtsman, but he was too badly injured to pull a tow-rope on board, but he was able to start his outboard motor, and "Methane Princess" made a lee for "Nomis" as it trundled up towards Portland Bill. The Portland RNLI lifeboat brought out a Doctor, himself a yachtsman, who boarded "Nomis" and brought the yacht to safety. Captain Dean's ship-handling was outstanding.

Bob I do apologise and you are correct in saying they both were the first purpose-built LNG carriers.

Ian

You are, of course, quite right but METHANE PRINCESS and METHANE PROGRESS were the first purpose-built LNG carriers. That's why I used the word 'pioneering' rather than 'pioneer'. For the actual pioneer see http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=2531937

I would say that the Methane Pioneer was the pioneering lng carrier at the time Bob, some info here I found about her:

https://www.revolvy.com/page/Methane-Pioneer

Regards
Ian Thomas