Thames Coastguard received a mayday signal at 21:30 hrs on 24 May 2001 requesting immediate assistance from three crewmembers on board the `Solon', a Folkboat.

The vessel had run aground on the sands at East Barrow Bank in the Thames Estuary and had started to take water and the three male occupants by now were in some considerable danger. A rescue helicopter R 125 from RAF Wattisham was immediately scrambled and the all-weather lifeboat from Walton-on-the- Naze was requested to launch. This was joined by Clacton inshore lifeboat and following a mayday relay by the Coastguard, the dredger `City of London' also responded.

The dredger which was the closest to the scene went to stand by the located vessel in order to guide in the helicopter, and shortly after three men; two from Maylansea - the skipper aged 45 and a crewmember 67, and a further crew member aged 54 from Hullbridge on the River Crouch, were winched aboard the aircraft and flown to Southend Airport for a rendezvous with an ambulance. Cold and wet they were taken to Southend Hospital for a further check up.

Meanwhile the crew from the Clacton inshore lifeboat had managed to put a crew on board the vessel in an attempt to assess the damage and whether she would come off the bank at the next high tide. This proved not to be the case and the vessel sank later in the evening.

Frank Hart, Watch Manager at Thames Coastguard said, " Seemingly the crew had attempted to take their yacht round the north end of a bank on a passage to France. The wind had blown them sideways and perhaps they had strayed a little too close to the bank for comfort in marginal weather for the size of craft. Winds have been fresher this evening with North Easterly winds force 5, accompanied by a moderate sea and swell.

" Fortunately all three are safe and well, however this is the second such incident in recent days in which the vessel has not been registered under the Coastguards Yacht and Boat Safety Scheme.

" This scheme, which is free to join, provides the Coastguard with full details of the vessel, and those who normally sail in such craft - essential for search and rescue purposes - plus a shore side contact - which can greatly assist us in ensuring that families and friends can be kept in touch with events as they unfold at an early stage."