Margate lifeboat Photo: RNLI
Margate RNLI along with lifeboats from Ramsgate and Sheerness were launched to assist a disabled yacht off the north Kent coast.
Around 11am on Wednesday 8 March UK Coastguard received a report from a member of the public of a yacht going round in circles off the harbour at Margate with the occupants waving their arms to attract attention.
Margate RNLI’s D class lifeboat was sent to investigate and Margate Coastguard Rescue Team also proceeded to the harbour arm. The lifeboat quickly located the 14m yacht with two male occupants aground in the harbour after trying unsuccessfully to moor there after they reported problems with the yacht’s engine.
The lifeboat secured a towline to the yacht and it was moved to safer waters for an assessment of the situation to be carried out.
It was established the vessel could not take the ground due to its single keel and with no suitable and safe berth in Margate and after consultation with the coastguard it was decided that the best way to ensure the safety of the craft and its occupants was to tow it to Ramsgate where Ramsgate’s all-weather lifeboat took over the tow.
Weather conditions were not ideal and it was decided to seek a secondary port of refuge at Sheerness. Ramsgate lifeboat met up with Sheerness RNLI all-weather lifeboat off Reculver which completed the tow to the Medway.