Margate, Kent - At 10.50 p.m. on 28th July, 1968, the coastguard informed the honorary secretary that the yacht Couthie, with a crew of two on board, had gone ashore at Gresham bay, Birchington. The coastguards were standing by on shore and had laid out two anchors to seaward. As high water was not due until 3.30 a.m. the coxswain assembled the crew at 11.40 and the life-boat North Foreland (Civil Service No. 11) was launched at 11.50 in a fresh north north easterly breeze with a rough sea. It was three and a half hours before high water. The life-boat came up with the yacht at 12.15 a.m. on the 29th July. She was lying head in to the cliffs and the sea was breaking over her stern. The life-boat dropped anchor and kedged in to use the gun line. After twounsuccessful attempts to get a line aboard, the life-boat veered her anchor cable and got closer enabling the heaving line, and later a nylon rope, to be made fast to the yacht.

In the retrieving of the anchor the rope fouled the port propeller. However, by putting the starboard engine full ahead the life-boat retrieved her anchor and drew clear with the yacht in tow. She reached Margate with her tow at 4.30, but owing to the unfavourable weather conditions the life-boat was not rehoused until later. The rescued men made a gift to the crew..