HANDKERCHIEF SIGNAL At 10.42 a.m. the next day, the Rame Head coastguard told the honorary secretary that the Plympton police had reported that a boat needing help about a mile off Bovisand was under observation from Breakwater Fort and did not appear to be in difficulties. Later, however, someone in the boat was seen to wave a handkerchief and at 11.12 the life-boat Thomas Forehead and Mary Revise was launched with the second coxswain in charge. There was a strong south-westerly wind with a heavy swell and the tide was ebbing. She found the boat, a 25-foot converted ship's life-boat, which had aboard five men and a boy who had been on a night fishing trip. Her engine had broken down and she was drifting towards the Renney rocks. The life-boat towed her to Millbay docks and returned to her station at 12.45 p.m..