Thick fog VISIBILITY WAS DOWN to a few yards when, at 2210 on Wednesday, June 16, Salcombe's 47' Watson lifeboat The Baltic Exchange slipped her moorings in thick fog to begin a search, with the aid of her radar, for a 19' cabin cruiser, La Mer, on a fishing trip from Salcombe and well overdue.

The Baltic Exchange was recalled at 0145 on June 17 and returned to her moorings at 0200 when preparations were made to renew the search at first light. After a brief rest for her crew she resumed her search at 0445. About anhour later she was joined by an RN helicopter from Culdrose. Visibility by now was about three miles.

During the two hour break between the searches, the Coastguards had been trying to plot La Mer's direction of drift, having regard to tide and weather, and they were able to give The Baltic Exchange a new course. This proved correct and at 0550 the lifeboat reported that she had sighted the casualty. Five minutes later she had La Mer in tow and was making for Salcombe where they arrived at 0713.

The Baltic Exchange returned to her moorings at 0730 on the morning of Thursday, June 17..