Witsand 24 December

Sea Rescue – Witsand – 24 December, 2010:At 14:00 today we had a request from the stern trawler Laligwe reporting mechanical engine problems and needing spare parts to be taken to her. She was requested to proceed closer to Witsand and our NSRI Witsand volunteers would launch our sea rescue craft to assist.While responding to this call we were asked to assist a small boat on the River suffering engine failure. Since it was confirmed that they were not in immediate danger we asked them to wait while we attended to the trawler.We then received a report of a kite surfer being blown out to sea off-shore of Witsand. We proceeded to the last sited position of the kite surfer and on arrival found out that the female kite surfer had managed to get to shore safely and required no further assistance.We then attended to the trawler, ferrying a mechanic and spare parts, approximately 1 nautical mile offshore in a 2.5m swell.After returned the mechanic to our sea rescue base we then went to the boat on the river with engine failure. It was towed safely back to the slipway and we assisted recovering her onto her trailer.