A BOAT was found washed ashore on Monday morning following heavy rain and strong winds.

The 27ft sailing boat called Cabaret, was found grounded on the beach close to Royal Terrace Pier.

Its owner, Conrad Broadley, was forced to stay with it for most of the day to wait for high tide, and an opportunity to move the vessel.

It was eventually moved at around 7pm, with the help of a salvage boat from Whitstable Rigging and Marine Services.

The bottom of the boat was damaged when it came loose from its mooring close by, following the stormy weather.

Mr Broadley said it wasn’t yet clear how much the damage would cost to repair but the boat would it was taken out of the water on Tuesday and put on a wharf in Denton for repairs.

It is thought that the boat’s hull may have hit breakers when it was washed into shore, causing a one foot hole in the boat.

Mr Broadley, who has owned the boat for two years, said it was the first time it had been beached.

The Gravesham councillor, a project manager, said: “It has drifted before, but never beached.

“It was the wind, force eight, which is gale force. It snapped the line, and yet it was all new rope.

“It’s difficult to tell how much it will cost to repair but it won’t be cheap.”