Get prepared before you set out to sea

In the early hours of this morning Falmouth Coastguard Operations Centre received a VHF transmission from the merchant vessel Morgenstond II, about 30 miles north west of St Ives, reporting sighting of flares. 

The Coastguard Search and Rescue helicopter from Newquay and the RNLI St Ives Lifeboat were sent to the area. Before they arrived the Morgenstond II spotted a dismasted yacht and safely removed the crewman from his vessel and proceeded to its next port of call, Liverpool.

Tago Mcleod from the UK Coastguard said,

We highly recommend anyone going out to sea should invest in the correct communications equipment including a fixed DSC VHF radio, a back-up VHF radio and ideally a distress beacon too. In this instance the crewman was lucky a passing vessel noticed his distress flare and was able to inform us of the situation.


Weather conditions can change in an instant, always check the weather and tidal conditions before you set out so that you can prepare accordingly. To help us in locating you, should you get into difficulty, consider joining the MCA’s voluntary CG66 safety identification scheme. Always tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return. Update them if your plans change.’

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