Yarmouth, Isle of Wight - at 9.5 p.m. on yth August, 1967, the coastguard reported that a yacht was firing flares seven miles south of the Needles. The Dutch vessel Advent was standing by.

The owner of the yacht had been lost overboard and the two other people on board were unable to start the engine or sail the boat. The life-boat The Earl and Countess Howe slipped her moorings at 9.28 in a fresh south easterly breeze and a rough sea. The tide was flooding.

The yacht Stella Maria, with the two people on board, was taken in tow to Yarmouth where they were treated by the honorary medical adviser. The missing man, who could not swim, was wearingoil skins and sea boots but had no lifejacket.

The life-boat returned at 1.50 a.m. on 8th August..