And the veteran's attempt to take another world title with the men's eights in New Zealand on Sunday remains on course after the team won their heat on Lake Karapiro having pulled away from Australia over the final kilometre.
"It was a really good step for us to put together everything we've trained for, everything we've been working on," stressed Searle.
"To go out and win your heat, you can't look for much more than that so I'm pretty happy."
Britain's women's eight team, which included Wales' Victoria Thornely, reached their final as they secured the top-two finish they needed by coming in behind reigning champions United States.
Crew member Olivia Whitlam said: "It certainly woke the lungs up. For a first run down the track, it was pretty enjoyable, and I think we put a decent run down. In an eight, a length is a lot, that's a very comfortable lead."
The lightweight men's pair of Chris Boddy and Adam Freeman-Pask also qualified for their final after finishing second in their repechage and nine British crews have now made it through to finals with seven other boats still to contest semi-finals.
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