12th October 2022. The crew of the Whitstable lifeboat praised the actions of the volunteer watchkeepers from the National Coastwatch Institution station at Herne Bay after the Whitstable lifeboat was launched to investigate a report of a partially submerged dinghy off Herne Bay on Tuesday morning.

After launching in response to a report from NCI Herne Bay of a possible capsized vessel about 3-miles offshore from the Lookout station, the lifeboat arrived in the area and quickly located the craft. It turned out to be the hull of a sailing dinghy, devoid of all rigging and fittings, and the lifeboat crew were satisfied that the craft had not had recent occupation and had drifted from somewhere along the shoreline. To prevent any further reports of a capsized vessel, the lifeboat took the dinghy under tow and landed it ashore near to the Herne Bay Sailing Club. The lifeboat crew were met onshore by members of the NCI and Herne Bay Sailing Club who were happy to contact Foreshore Services to arrange for disposal of the dinghy.

RNLI Lifeboat Helmsman Ben Crosswell said, “The NCI did very well to spot the partially submerged craft at that distance and whilst on our arrival the dinghy was found to be in a derelict condition and showing no signs of recent use, it was a call well worth attending to make certain there was no persons involved and to prevent further reports to the coastguard”.