Margate, Kent. At 6.53 on the evening of the llth of April, 1959, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary of a radio-telephone message received from the tanker Helix that a sailing yacht was in difficulties one mile east of Tongue lightvessel. At 7.5 the life-boat North Fore/and (Civil Service No. 11) was launched in a very rough sea, with a fresh south-south-westerly wind blowing and an ebb tide. The weather was overcast with rain squalls.

While making for the position the coxswain was informed that the yacht Minette of London was secured to the lightvessel and that her crew of four were very seasick and exhausted. The wind had now backed to the south- south-east and was blowing more strongly. The life-boat reached the lightvessel at 8.10 and found the yacht secured astern. Her crew were too exhausted and sick to handle her and were unable to board the lightvessel.

The coxswain manoeuvred the life-boat alongside and the four men were taken on board the life-boat. The second coxswain then boarded the yacht and connected a tow rope. Throughout thereturn passage there was a danger that the yacht might founder in the heavy confused sea, but the life-boat towed her back successfully. The life-boat was off Margate at 8.45, but the coxswain had to wait for the tide to enter the harbour. It was 11.59 before the life-boat was moored alongside the quay, and she was rehoused early next morning. Property salvage case..