Margate, Kent. At 12.52 on the afternoon of the 27th of July, 1959, the coastguard informed the honorary sec- retary that a body had been reported floating near the West Pan Sand buoy and a request was made for the life-boat to recover it. At 1.4 the life-boat North Foreland (Civil Service No. 11) was launched in a rough sea. A south- westerly wind of nearly gale force was blowing and the tide was flooding. The life-boat carried out a search of the area, but all that was found was a dinghy's oar. While she was searching a radio message was received that a body had been sighted in Prince's Channel. On the way to this position the coxswain was informed by the motor vessel Zorroza that a body had been seen two miles west of East Redsand buoy. The life-boat searched this area without success and was returning to her station when a further message was received from the motor vessel Royal Daffodil that a boat was partly submerged near South Spit buoy.

The coxswain altered course and found the sailing boat Spray of Birchington, but there was no one aboard. The life- boat towed the sailing boat to Margate harbour, arriving at 7.30. Rewards to the crew, £14 ; rewards to the helpers on shore, £4 9s..