Night search EXMOUTH DEPUTY LAUNCHING AUTHORITY was informed by HM Coastguard at 0117 on Wednesday, July 28, that a Mirror Class dinghy, with a crew of two, was long overdue. In good visibility and with a gentle north-westerly breeze and moderate sea, the 48' 6" Solent lifeboat City of Birmingham slipped her moorings at 0137 to join with other boats in a search of the coastline and up to five miles seawards from Ladram Bay to Sidmouth for the missing dinghy.

At first light the Coastguard asked for the help of an aircraft and at 0530 a helicopter from RAF Chivenor joined the search. At 0813 the search wasextended to cover an area further south and at 0830 the helicopter reported having located the casualty some 12 miles south south west of Sidmouth. The two occupants were winched to safety and landed ashore.

The abandoned dinghy was taken in tow by the trawler St Marguerite which at 1007 met City of Birmingham, then on her way back to her station, and handed over the tow to her.

Lifeboat and dinghy arrived back in Exmouth at 1122 and, after refuelling, City of Birmingham returned to her moorings at 1230..