THERE was an unusual ‘rescue within a rescue’ when the Richards Bay NSRI picked up a forlorn straggler 20 nautical miles from shore last week.
The crew were amazed to see an exhausted dove land on their craft, presumably after having tried to make land from a ship at sea or after being blown off course in a storm.
The bird was safely brought back to the base.
The Sea Rescue crew was on a mission to assist solo sailor Sergei Morozov, a Canadian whose yacht ‘Hikari’ lost its rudder and suffered mechanical problems after leaving Madagascar bound for the Caribbean.
‘He had been in contact with NSRI Richards Bay since Wednesday morning,’ said Cornel du Toit, NSRI Richards Bay station commander.
‘He had been limping along off Sodwana with motor failure and the rudder had completely broken off.
‘We launched our sea rescue craft Spirit of Richards Bay at 9am , with the yacht 35 nautical miles out, and the skipper having finally requesting help.
‘On arrival a tow-line was rigged to the yacht and the yacht has been safely towed to Port in Richards Bay and berthed at 5.40pm.
’The skipper was in good health and fine spirits.’
PHOTO: DAVE SAVIDES
