Whitstable lifeboat alongside the capsized dinghy off Seasalter on Thursday, 8 August Photo: Sam Turner/RNLI Whitstable
A yachtsman and his sailing dinghy had to be taken ashore by the Whitstable B-Class lifeboat Lewisco on Thursday afternoon after his craft capsized off Seasalter.
Launching at 16.38 the lifeboat arrived ‘on scene’ some six minutes later and the crew located the dinghy on its side with a man in the water 1/2-mile off Seasalter sailing club. Weather conditions at the time were force 5 south westerly winds with a choppy sea.
The dinghy sailor was brought onboard the lifeboat.
Subsequently his 14-foot craft was ‘righted’ and landed ashore to Herne Bay Coastguard Rescue Team on the beach close to the Sportsman public house. The lifeboat crew returned to their station.
Lifeboat Helm Dave Parry said:
“He was an experienced yachtsman and the boat was well equipped but he struggled in the breezy conditions and when he capsized he was unable to right the boat. However it was fortunate that he was wearing a buoyancy aid, had a VHF radio, a mobile phone in a waterproof pouch and a personal locator beacon so he had plenty of options for calling for assistance.”