Coastguard use sky banners

The Coastguard have, for the first time, charted light aeroplanes to tow banners along South Coast beaches to warn of ‘dangerous’ offshore winds.

While the yachtsmen enjoys great sailing when the wind is offshore – because the seas are relatively flat – inexperienced users of inflatable dinghies blow out to sea.

Dover Coastguard have already dealt with dozens of such incidents this season.