Walmer, Kent - 9.56 p.m. on 15th August, 1969, the coastguard reported that a yacht was aground on the Goodwin sands about five miles east of Deal pierhead. At 10.8 the life-boat Charles Cooper Henderson, on temporary duty at the station, was launched in a moderate north north westerly wind with a choppy sea. It was high water. At 11.17 she came up with the yacht Gnomo which was at anchor in shallow, broken water.

As the life-boat veered alongside the yacht, the two people on board jumped into the life-boat, while two of the life-boat crew boarded the yacht to secure the tow. The yacht was then taken in tow to Ramsgate, and the life-boat returned to her station at 2.46 a.m. on 16th August..