The lifeboat launched to search for a 9m Dutch yacht Level Four, with three people on board, reported as overdue.

A group of 19 yachts had sailed from Ijmuiden bound for Chatham. 18 had arrived safely, but there had been nothing heard from Level Four since 8pm the previous evening.

Whitstable Lifeboat was tasked to search the Swale, whilst Sheerness Inshore Lifeboat and  coastguard teams ashore searched the Medway Estuary.

At 0100, having searched as far as Ridham Dock, Whitstable Lifeboat was released to return to station.

The search resumed at first light with lifeboats from Harwich, Walton, Margate and Sheerness, plus the coastguards searching shoreside. At 0700 Sheerness Lifeboat found the yacht safe and well in the Princes Channel six miles offshore, having suffered total power failure.

More info here