Margate, Kent. At 4.56 p.m. on 8th January, 1966, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that red flares have been seen north west of the West Girdler buoy. The life-boat North Foreland (Civil Service No. n) was launched at 5.22 in a fresh south easterly breeze and a choppy sea. It was one hour before low water. The life-boat responded and later received a message on her radio that the Yugoslav ship Rijeka had a small craft in tow, and was making for the North East Spit buoy. The life-boat came up with the two vessels and the assistant motor mechanic was put aboard the yacht Mandragon, of London, whose crew of two were transferred to the life-boat. The yacht was then taken in tow to Margate pier, where the Mandragon was moored and her crew were landed, arriving at 11.20. It was impossible to rehouse the life-boat, because of low water, until 1.45 a.m..