Thames Coastguard requested the lifeboat to launch following reports of a "Topper"  class sailing dinghy off Herne Bay Pier struggling to make it back to shore in the gathering darkness.

When the lifeboat arrived on scene the dinghy, with two people on board, had made it into the shallows, and was being assisted by a member of Herne Bay Coastguard team.

The lifeboat therefore returned to station.