Yacht with rudder failure towed to Port:

DURBAN Sunday 10th June 2012.At 14h15 the Durban duty crew, who were at the NSRI sea rescue base busy with routine maintenance and training, were called-out following a request for assistance from the Point Yacht Club safety boat for the local 42 foot yacht Belissima with rudder failure.She had seven crew onboard and was taking part in a routine Sunday regatta, and was taking water in 4.5 meter breaking swells and a 35 knot South Westerly wind, at the Fairway Buoy, 2.5 nautical miles off Durban.Clifford Ireland, NSRI Durban station commander said that the duty crew launched Megan II, a 7.5 meter rigid inflatable rescue boat, and on arrival on-scene the yacht was secured and all of her crew found to be safe. Because of the rough sea conditions, the decision was taken not to attempt to tow the yacht to Port using Megan II and Eikos Rescuer II, a 10 meter deep-sea rescue boat, was launched and once on-scene took the casualty yacht under tow and she was safely towed into Port.