by Adam Williams

Whitstable lifeboat was called out four times within 24 hours over the Bank Holiday weekend.

On Saturday evening, the crew responded to reports of a motor boat stranded in the Swale off Hart Ferry, following an engine failure.

Two persons onboard were helped onto the lifeboat after their vessel was located in the channel north of the Horse Sand around 7pm.

On Sunday afternoon, a sailing dinghy was spotted in difficulty from the shoreline after capsizing 400 yards off Long Beach, to the east of Whitstable Harbour.

The lifeboat crew assisted the only person onboard around 1.10pm, who was able to continue back to shore after crew helped right his craft.

Shortly after, a man was left stranded when his 21ft open sailing boat broke adrift from its mooring and washed ashore. He was taken onboard the lifeboat and landed in the harbour, due to choppy conditions and westerly force-six winds.

The crew were called into action again that evening around 7.15pm. A 17ft yacht was reported aground off Fowley Island, between Harty Ferry and Conyer Creek in the Swale. One person was reported onboard, with another adrift in a dinghy.

On arrival, both the yacht and dinghy were found aground in the same location in shallow water. Both occupants were taken onboard the lifeboat and transferred ashore into the care of waiting coastguards at Harty Ferry, to the west of Faversham Creek.

Whitstable volunteer lifeboat crew have now responded to 53 calls this year.

Read more reaction in this week's Whitstable Gazette, out Thursday.