The first intimation of trouble. Ch 16. Anxious voice "Can you help? I am in a motor boat and my engine is on fire, I am off Start Point, I am very inexperienced".

Coastguard. Can you give you name and position etc.?

Casualty: "xxxxx" (make of boat!) and gave co-ordinates. One person on board, still very inexperienced

Watchkeeper already scanning sea around Start Point but co-ordinates indicate area off Bolt Head.

Coastguard asks for co-ordinates to be read from casualty's GPS. Indicates off Start Point.

Watchkeeper finds casualty, reports position to Coastguard (SW Start Point)

Coastguard. Launches lifeboat. Makes incident a 'Pan Pan'. Casualty reports fire is out but drifting.

A Fishery Protection vessel takes the vessel in tow some 1-1.5 miles west of its original position under influence of S.E. wind, F 5, and falling tide.

Salient points: emergency calls can come in all shapes and sizes; anxiety causes mistakes and how quickly boats can drift.