At 6.10 a.m. on 17th September, 1967, the coastguard told the honorary secretary that a small speedboat which had left Ramsgate harbour for Margate at 2.35 had not arrived at 6.33. As the life-boat was about to search for the boat a message was received that a small boat with two men on board had just entered Ramsgate harbour. The life-boat North Foreland (Civil Service No. 11) was, however, launched at 6.59. The tide was flooding. Owing to visibility being reduced to less than 50 yards the life-boat proceeded at half speed towards Ramsgate. When about a quarter of a mile east of Foreness Point, the outlines of a small boat were seen. On reaching the scene, the life-boat found the missing speedboat Sea Spray with four people and a dog on board. The four people and the dog were taken on board the lifeboat and the boat was taken in tow to Ramsgate. The life-boat returned to her station at 9.45..