Foreign Sailing Yachts Assisted

Norman Rautenbach, NSRI Richards Bay station commander, said: At 14h48, Sunday, 11 October, our NSRI Richards Bay duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from a British couple, a husband and wife, needing to make best use of the Spring high tide to get their sailing yacht across the normally shallow channel from the small craft harbour to moorings at the Zululand Yacht Club.

In strong North Easterly winds they requested the assistance of NSRI to make safe passage across the channel to safe moorings.

The NSRI rescue craft Ocean Guardian was launched.

On arrival at their side we rafted alongside their sailing yacht assisting them into the channel, into deeper waters, and they made their way safely to the yacht club where they moored, without incident, and no further assistance was required.

Then at 01h38, Monday, 12 October, our NSRI Richards Bay duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from a New Zealand couple, a husband and wife, on a sailing vessel, who had earlier reported issues with their sailing yacht motor that was having problems to start.

On their arrival at the Port of Richards Bay, in the harbour channel, they requested help after their motor failed to start.

We requested them to put to anchor and await the arrival of our rescue craft.

The NSRI rescue craft Ocean Guardian was launched and on arrival on the scene we towed the sailing yacht to safe moorings at the International quay, without incident, and no further assistance was required.