At 11.13 a.m. on 9th August, 1966, a yacht was seen firing distress signals in the vicinity of the Tongue sands. The life-boat Elizabeth Elson, on temporary duty at the station, was launched at 11.20 in a strong south south westerly wind and a moderate sea. It was almost low water. Just before she reached the casualty, a message was received that the occupants had all been taken off by helicopter. The life-boat then stood by the cabin cruiser Juan Therese which was on a sandbank half a mile to the south west of North Tongue buoy. As there was nobody aboard the casualty, and the life-boat could not reach her, one of the life-boat'screw swam 20 yards to her and secured a line. Soon after i o'clock the cabin cruiser refloated on the rising tide. Both her propellers were fouled by ropes. The life-boat towed the cabin cruiser to Margate, and returned to her station at 6 o'clock..