Eastern Cape - Overdue boats found:

Friday, 23rd November, 2012.At 13h54 on Friday, 23rd November NSRI Jeffreys Bay volunteers were called out following reports of two rigid inflatable boats with 3 men and 1 woman 0nboard that was two hours overdue at their destination in Jeffreys Bay after a voyage from Port Elizabeth to Jeffreys Bay. The overdue boats could not be contacted by a concerned friend who raised the alarm.Rieghard Janse van Rensburg, NSRI Jeffreys Bay station commander, said that our NSRI Jeffreys Bay duty crew launched LOVED 1s 24:. and our Discovery Rescue Runner and began a sweeping search from Jeffreys Bay towards Port Elizabeth.Our Discovery Rescue Quad Bike and sea rescue vehicle were dispatched to begin a shore search in the direction of Port Elizabeth and NSRI Port Elizabeth volunteer sea rescue duty crew prepared to launch to begin a search from Port Elizabeth towards Jeffreys Bay.During the search we found both boats and all four crew safe and drifting on the coast in calm sea conditions between the Kabeljous Beach and the Gamtoos River Mouth.It appears that both boats had mechanical motor problems causing them to drift until help arrived.Both boats were towed safely to Jeffreys Bay.The crew of the casualty boats have respectfully requested that their names are not released. Picture by RRAD Photography.