Later, the crew see bright lights and bangs from what they think might be a fireworks display ashore. How should they tell the difference between fireworks and a genuine distress flare at sea?

A. Consider the location (is it coming from land where a display would make sense, or from open water where a vessel would be?), the pattern (fireworks are usually varied and colourful in a display sequence; distress flares are typically a single bright red flare or rocket), and if there is any doubt at all, report it

B. There is never any way to tell the difference, so nothing should ever be reported

C. Assume anything bright in the sky at night near the coast is always just fireworks

D. Assume anything seen from a boat at sea is always a genuine flare, even clearly from a shoreside event

A. Assume it is probably just someone messing about and ignore it completely

B. Only react if the flare is white rather than red, since red flares are never serious

C. Treat it as a genuine distress signal until proven otherwise — note the position and time, and make a Mayday relay or alert the Coastguard on VHF Channel 16, since any flare seen at sea must be assumed real until confirmed otherwise

D. Wait at least an hour to see if a second flare follows before doing anything

A. The boat's own position, the approximate bearing and distance to where the flare was seen, the time, the colour/type of flare if known, and a description of the other vessel if visible

B. Wait until reaching harbour the next day to mention it in person

C. Refuse to give a position, since the flare did not come from SUNBEAM

D. Just say "I saw a flare" with no further detail, since the Coastguard will work out everything else themselves