7 Jun 2011 - While on watch on Saturday 4 June, watchkeeper Chris Field made a routine sweep of the seas off NCI Cape Cornwall using the stations high-powered binoculars.

He caught sight of a small single-sailed dinghy moving erratically in a moderately rough sea in windy conditions.

Within the space of a few minutes the dinghy capsized, and was righted again, several times, which gave Chris cause for concern.

He contacted Falmouth Coastguard (FCG), and gave the dinghy’s location, informing them that it had capsized several times, and appeared to contain one or two passengers.

FCG requested the launch of the Sennen Lifeboat, and meanwhile Chris kept the dinghy in view while listening to the radio communications between FCG and the lifeboat, which enabled him to suggest a course correction to ensure the lifeboat was heading directly to the dinghy. He was also able to confirm they were coming up on the correct vessel when they advised that they could see the sail.

There was only one person on the dinghy, who had suffered a slight head injury, which was treated by a doctor who met the lifeboat at Sennen. When the lifeboat returned to the dinghy’s location, there was no trace of it, nor could Chris see it from the lookout.

Chris’ vigilance, the quick response to his alert by FCG and the lifeboat, and Chris’ subsequent correction of the lifeboat’s course led to the speedy recovery of an injured, exhausted sailor, averting a potential fatality and once again illustrating the value of NCI’s ‘eyes along the coast’.