Sea rescue brings sailing yacht safely into Bay port

A Sailing yacht caught in heavy seas offshore of Richards Bay was safely brought into the Port of Richards Bay by the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) rescue craft – Ocean Guardian on Friday evening after it had experienced mechanical issues.

NSRI Richards Bay Deputy Station Commander, Norman Rautenbach said the duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from three men on a catamaran who were caught in heavy seas when one their two motors was struck with mechanical issues.

They were battling to keep course and steer towards Richards Bay.

NSRI Emergency Operations Centre, Transnet National Ports Authority, Port of Richards Bay Port Control, Police Sea Borderline Control and Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre were alerted while Telkom Maritime Radio Services and NSRI Richards Bay duty controllers, assisted with marine VHF radio communications.

”We rendezvoused with the sailing yacht, whose last port of call was in Mozambique, in an electrical thunderstorm, two to three metre sea swells and moderate to strong south-westerly winds.

“A towline was passed to the three yachtsman and rigged from their yacht.

“We towed them into the Port of Richards Bay and rafted alongside them where three NSRI crew were transferred onto the yacht and we brought them safely to a berth at the international moorings without incident.

“They had hoped to get to Durban but under only one motor power and some rudder steering issues, in the storm that came through while they were off-shore of Richards Bay, the safer option was to bring them into Richards Bay for repairs before continuing.

“The operation was completed at midnight,” said Rautenbach.

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