At 1.18 p.m. on 28th August, 1966, a yacht was reported aground on the Sunk sands near the Great Sunk beacon. There was a fresh easterly breeze with a rough sea.

It was two hours after high water. The lifeboat Edian Courtauld proceeded at 1.35 to the position (it was later amended to the Little Sunk beacon) and found the American yacht China Bird hard aground.

There were five people on board. A tow rope was connected and at 10.9, when the tide had flooded sufficiently, the China Bird was refloated. The yacht was towed by the life-boat to Harwich harbour where she was moored. The life-boat returned to her station, arriving at 4.45 a.m. on 29th August..