Seven aboard liferaft AT 0115 in the early hours of Saturday, October 20, 1984, red flares were sighted in the Bramble Bank area of the Solent. By 0136, Calshot's 40ft Keith Nelson lifeboat, Ernest William and Elizabeth Ellen Hinde, under the command of Coxswain John Horton, was on her way to begin a search at West Bramble buoy.

The wind was west-south-westerly force 6 to 7 and the sea was rough as the lifeboat passed Calshot light vessel. Just then, a red hand flare was sighted.

Immediately the coxswain altered course to investigate and as the lifeboat came nearer, her searchlight beam picked up an inflatable liferaft with seven people on board. They were quickly hauled aboard the lifeboat and treated for exposure. Although all seemed to be unharmed, one was suffering from sea sickness.

The seven survivors had been sailing a 36ft yacht from Southampton to Cowes. The yacht had hit the Bramble Bank after a navigational error and had lost her keel.

On arrival back at the station at 0202, the survivors were checked out by the assistant honorary medical adviser before being taken to Southampton in the harbour patrol launch. The lifeboat wasback on her mooring, ready for service at 0230..