During storms a huge wave broke a porthole on 10th September. The studio was flooded, but programmes resumed from another studio. More serious was when the anchor was lost at 20:30 that evening, during the force nine storm. The radioship started to drift, and the Lifeboat services and air-sea rescue at RAF Manston were put on standby.

At 03:20 on 11th September, the station left the air. The Mi Amigo had run onto a sandbank, and the hull had become holed in two places. There was up to six feet of water in some parts of the ship.

The English DJ's decide to stay, but the Dutch deejay's and crew were taken off the ship and on to Ostend in Belgium. The Dutch searched Ostend harbour and discovered an impounded oil tanker - on board of which was a large anchor and chain, which they removed during the night. This found its way to the MV Mi Amigo, where it served for thirteen years, until the ship sank in March 1980.

Two tenders arrived on the16th September, with a relief crew, and towed the ship clear of the sandbank. Non stop music returns at six that evening.

Radio Caroline switched frequency to 259 Metres /1158 Khz on 10th December 1976, giving a full 24 hours a day service. Radio Mi Amigo moved to Caroline’s previous 192 metre spot on the dial.