Margate, Kent. At 4.26 on the after- noon of the 2nd July, 1961, the coast- guard informed the honorary secretary that a sailing dinghy had capsized a mile and a half off Whiteness. There was a moderate north-westerly wind with a rough sea. At 4.35 the life-boat North Foreland {Civil Service No. 11) was launched on the ebb tide. Shortly before she launched news was received that the boat was one of several yachts thathad been taking part in a race off Broadstairs. They had been caught in a squall and nearly all had capsized.

On reaching the position the life-boat found that the sailing dinghy Squall of Broadstairs had capsized. Another yacht, Sea Hawk, had rescued the man on board and had the capsized Squall in tow. As the Sea Hawk could not make headway, the life-boat took the survivor on board, and with the Squall in tow made for Broadstairs. Meanwhile all the other capsized yachts had been picked up or towed in by motor boats from Broadstairs. The life-boat there- fore made for her station, but on the way she found the yacht Valerie dangerously close to Foreness Point.

The coxswain warned the yacht's crew of the danger they were in and escorted the Valerie into deep water. The life- boat arrived back at her station at 6.45..