Margate, Kent. At 2.48 early on the morning of the 27th of January, 1961, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that a vessel was ashore on the Kentish Knock sands about eighteen miles north-east of Margate. A south- south-easterly gale was blowing and it was cloudy and freezing. The life-boat North Foreland (Civil Service No.11) was launch- ed at 3.32 at low water. She went to the position given, which was between the South and Middle Knock buoys. On the way a radio-telephone message was received from the m.v. Similarity, stating that she was standing by the vessel ashore, which was the Dutch motor vessel Narwal. At 4.45 a further message was received from the Similarity that the Narwal had refloated and was going on her way and did not now need help. The life-boat returned to her station and went into the harbour to await the turn of the tide to rehouse. It was seen that the Narwal had anchored in the roads, presumably waiting until the weather moderated.

Another Dutch vessel, the Hilda, had anchored near by and had sent two men in the ship's boat to row ashore for food. This boat got into difficulties and was towed into harbour by the life-boat, which returned to her station at 11.10..