Coastguard Kaikoura volunteers were called out at midnight on the 12th October 2009 by the Maritime NZ Rescue Coordination Centre to aid a yacht in distress near Cape Campbell. The yacht had an electrical fire onboard cutting all electronics including the navigation lights, there was petrol in the bilges and the crew were experiencing seasickness and difficulty with navigation. 

The Coastguard vessel, Kaikoura Rescue, found the yacht just south of Cape Campbell near Needles Point at 3.30 am and escorted is safely to Kaikoura, arriving back at 11.30am that morning.

The 40 foot yacht with 4 people on board, was traveling north from Lyttelton when the fire occured and they decided to make a PAN PAN call using a cellphone when the incident occurred.

PAN PAN is a distress call made when the safety of a person or vessel is in jeopardy but the danger is not life threatening.  A MAY DAY distress call is for imminent danger to life or property and immediate assistance is required.