Fog bound ON March 11 two pleasure boats, the Sea Pearl and the Sea Otter, w i t h fishing parties aboard were reported overdue in Ayr harbour.At 6.30 p.m. the Troon lifeboat Conncl Elizabeth Car gill slipped her moorings to make a search in a light south easterly wind. With visibility down to 20 feet, the area was searched until 8.10, whereupon the Coastguard reported another boat, the Endeavour, with a party aboard, had not returned to Irvine. The lifeboat then searched Irvine Bay. Radar was used at this stage owing to the total lack of visibility.

At 9.35 the Coastguard advised that the Endeavour had got ashore safely, and the lifeboat then returned to Ayr Bay. At 12.40 a.m. Arran Coastguard reported that shouts could be heard from people in u boat off Prestwick shore. The lifeboat found the motor boat Sea Pearl at 1.20 with 16 people aboard. They were lost in the fog.

Fourteen were transferred to the lifeboat, and their boat was then towed to Troon. At 2.10 all the party were landed safely, and the lifeboat returned to her station five minutes later..