Launched 17:55, Rehoused 18:20 D 519 launched to assist two 13 year old boys in a small dinghy who were clinging to a mooring buoy to prevent themselves from drifting down tide on a powerful spring tide ebb. They were wearing lifejackets but the plastic rowlocks were useless and the propellor on the outboard was damaged. The Lifeboat towed them…

Launched 17:29, Rehoused 18:55 Thames Coastguard received a ‘Mayday’ from a 22′ bilge keel yacht aground on the southern edge of the Maplin Sands. There was some confusion over the latitude and longitude first reported by the casualty but once her position was established the Lifeboat found her quite easily.  She was however drying out rapidly and…

Launched 16:00, Rehoused 16:37 The Harbour Authority launch had found a wayfarer dinghy dragging its anchor rapidly down tide in the River Roach.  They re-anchored the boat near the steps at Monkton Barns.  The Lifeboat was asked to look for the crew but on hearing that they could be in the pub on Foulness Island, the DLA told the Coastguard…

Launched 18:20, Rehoused 22:55 B 733 launched to assist a newly-purchased but elderly 22′ cabin cruiser with four people on board being escorted by a 20′ speedboat, with two supposedly more experienced friends on board. They had got lost while making their way from Canvey Island to Hullbridge with no navigational aids on either boat other than a road…