After experiencing a motor mechanical failure while deep at sea, a foreign sailing yacht with five crew on board was guided back to safety at the Port of Richards Bay on Friday.

Zululand Observer reports that the National Sea Rescue Institute’s (NSRI) Richards Bay crew came to the aid of the trimaran yacht and its four British and one American crew.

According to NSRI Richards Bay station commander Norman Rautenbach, the trimaran had alerted NSRI Richards Bay on Wednesday, reporting they were deep sea, approaching Richards Bay and expected to arrive on Friday.

They reported a motor mechanical failure and needed assistance to get into Richards Bay on arrival.

“At 07:26 on Friday, NSRI Richards Bay was alerted by the sailing vessel that they expected to be nearer to Richards Bay during the afternoon,” says Rautenbach.

At around 14:00, the NSRI rescue craft Ocean Guardian was launched and rendezvoused with the catamaran 15 nautical miles offshore of Richards Bay.

“Under their own sail we escorted them into the Port of Richards Bay, where we rafted alongside the sailing vessel and brought her safely to a mooring at Zululand Yacht Club, and no further assistance was required,” says Rautenbach.

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