Mossel Bay and Jeffries bay rescues

Sea Rescue – Mossel Bay and Jeffries Bay – 15 and 16 January, 2011: Deck fishing boat assisted and Hobie Cat Swept out to sea:Mossel Bay:At 13h03 on Saturday (15/01) NSRI Mossel Bay volunteers were activated following a request for assistance from the Deck fishing boat Colleen reporting mechanical engine failure and requiring spare parts and mechanical assistance 28 nautical miles off-shore of Mossel Bay.We launched our rescue craft and on arrival on-scene mechanical assistance and parts were provided to Colleen. Her fellow deck fishing boat Malgas escorted her to port.Jeffries Bay:At 09h09 on Sunday (16/01) NSRI St Francis Bay launched our sea rescue craft following reports of a Hobie-Cat capsized with 2 men onboard in a 30 knot off-shore Westerly wind and 2 to 3 metre swells off Jeffries Bay.The long line fishing trawler Sajex had come across the capsized Hobie-Cat while we were responding and had taken the two men onboard.On our arrival on-scene both men were transferred from the trawler onto our rescue boat.The Hobie-Cat had broken up and pieces of the Hobie-Cat were recovered by the fishing trawler.Both men, aged in their early thirties, were brought to our sea rescue base and one of the men was treated for a laceration to his lip.Their Hobie-Cat was brought to St Francis Bay harbour by the fishing trawler.They had capsized a number of times while sailing off Jeffries Bay and although they had managed to right their craft a number of times they were swept out to sea by the strong off-shore winds before being rescued by the fishing trawler.The skipper and crew of the fishing trawler Sajex are commended for their rescue effort.