Southend-on-Sea, Essex. At 4.28 a.m. on ist September, 1965, the coastguard reported that red flares had been sighted off the S.W. Girdler buoy.

There was a fresh north-westerly wind, a moderate sea, and it was one hour before high water. The life-boat Greater London II (Civil Service No. 50) was launched at 4.56 and found the yacht habela one mile west of Pansand. The wind had by now increased to gale force, with a very rough sea. The life-boat went alongside the habela and two members of the lifeboat crew were put aboard as the yacht was making water. Temporary repairs had been made to the rudder and the crew of eight people asked the life-boat to escort them to Harty Ferry. The lifeboat reached her station at 12.30 p.m..