A yacht with five crew on board sparked an RNLI rescue after it ran aground on the Goodwin Sands.

Both
Ramsgate RNLI’s inshore (ILB) and all-weather (AWB) lifeboats launched
at 4.54pm yesterday to assist the 13m Belgian yacht, which was ‘firmly aground on the Sands on a falling tide and could not be towed
off’.

An RNLI spokesman said it was decided to take the crew members off the yacht to the safety
of Ramsgate and the ILB crew transferred the five crew members to the
AWB in fairly calm seas and both lifeboats returned to Ramsgate.

As
the yacht could have become a shipping hazard the lifeboats launched
again at 10.30pm as the tide was rising.

Upon reaching the yacht two ILB
crew went aboard to check for damage and finding none apparent attached
a towing rope and as soon as it was felt that there was enough sea
under it, the ILB crew managed to tow the yacht off the Sands.

The tow
was transferred to the AWB and the lifeboats reached the harbour at
1am where the yacht was reunited with its crew.

It is understood that the yacht and its crew returned to Belgium early today following further checks.

Picture credit: RNLI/Phil Mace