ILB D533 ‘Peter Cornish’ launched at 1645 hrs to investigate a report of a vessel on fire approximately 2-3 miles south-southeast of Pagham Yacht Club.
The commodore of Pagham Yacht Club, while monitoring a dinghy race, had spotted thick black smoke apparently coming from a vessel approximately 2-3 miles offshore. The ‘Peter Cornish’ searched the area thoroughly as did the HM Coastguard Rescue Helicopter ‘India Juliet’. The ‘Peter Cornish’ questioned all boats in the area but nobody reported seeing any sign of smoke.
Visibility was excellent and it is thought that the smoke had probably emanated from a large oil tanker further out to sea. At 1745 hrs the search was terminated, the ‘Peter Cornish’ returned to station, arriving back at 1745 hrs, rehousing straight away and was ready for service at 1800 hrs.
CREW: Colin Pullenger (Helmsman), Richard Wiseman, Zoë Belcher.
WIND: SE F1-2. SEA: Calm. WEATHER: Hot and sunny.