If a distress flare is sighted in an anchoring zone, the first light search should include which area?

• A. The entire harbor area
• B. The original cone and drifted area
• C. The vessel's last known position
• D. The weather pattern near the anchorage

Answer: (B)

When a distress flare is seen in an anchoring zone, the area most likely to contain the casualty is where the flare indicates plus where drift could have carried them since the flare was fired. The first light search should include both the original cone and the drifted area. The original cone focuses on the probable location at the time of the flare, while the drifted area extends that search along the path the vessel would have moved under wind and current during the elapsed time. This combination maximizes the chance of a fast rescue by targeting where the person or vessel could be now, not just where they were seen. Searching the entire harbor or relying only on the last known position or weather patterns wouldn’t efficiently locate the target.