Fourteen saved from yacht aground on the Goodwin SandsBoth of Ramsgate's lifeboats were called to an incident on the Goodwin Sands on 13 November 1994, when a French sail-training vessel went aground in a WSW gale with 14 people on board. The service led to the RNLI's chief of operations writing to the station to congratulate the helmsman of the inshore lifeboat, Ray Noble, and his crew members Kenneth Crowther and Wayne Goldfinch for their skill and determination during the service.

The yacht, Southern Star from Dunkirk, had first grounded at about 1130 but had not reported the fact. It was not until the cross-Channel ferry Sally Star passed about half-an-hour later and reported the yacht's dilemma that Dover Coastguard became aware of the situation.

The coastguard immediately asked for the launch of Ramsgate's relief Tyne Kenneth Thelwall II. The all-weather lifeboat proceeded to the scene and then asked for the launch of the inshore lifeboat - the Atlantic 21 Ramsgate Enterprise - because of the situation.

The yacht was hard aground and it was decided to evacuate 10 of the people on board before making any attempt to tow her off. The survivors were able to walk over the sands to the Atlantic and were then ferried to the Tyne which took them ashore to the safety of Ramsgate Harbour.

On returning to the scene the inshore and all-weather lifeboats decided to attempt to tow Southern Star off the sands.They stood by until the casualty began to refloat on the rising tide and then began the operation. There was very little water around the stranded yacht so the Tyne - which had the required power - could not approach closely. The Atlantic however, although lacking the power, made use of her shallow water capabilities to transfer a tow line. The task was not as simple as it sounds. Working on the windward side of the casualty in gale force winds, severe seas and only oneand- a-half metres of water it took three attempts to get the tow line across. The station's honorary secretary remarked in his report that the success of this operation - without damage to the lifeboat or casualty was due to superb boat handling and skill and determination.

Eventually, and with great difficulty Southern Star was pulled into deep water and taken to Ramsgate Harbour..