Whitstable Lifeboat  launched  to a report of a 25-foot yacht in difficulties and taking in water a ½-mile from the Kentish Flats Wind Farm.

Thames Coastguard were in contact with the yacht’s two occupants by mobile phone but there was no clear information on the vessels position so the lifeboat commenced a search from the north west corner of the wind farm.

The Sheerness all-weather lifeboat was also heading for the scene to carry out a radar search of the area.

At 22.05 the Whitstable Lifeboat located the casualty east of the wind farm. A lifeboat crewmember went onboard to shut down the crafts engine and handle the tow.

It was found that the yacht was not taking in water but had suffered a leaking seawater coolant pipe on its main engine.

At 22.09 the yacht was taken in tow for Whitstable harbour and the Sheerness Lifeboat was released from the incident to return to station.

Due to low water the lifeboat crew anchored the yacht off the harbour and brought its occupants ashore.

The lifeboat was re-launched in the early hours of Saturday morning to bring the yacht into the harbour.

The yacht had and its two occupants a 56-year-old female and a 26-year-old male had been on passage from Hoo to Ipswich when it got into difficulties.